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Denver Nuggets unable to overcome 21 turnovers in loss to Boston Celtics

By Vinny Benedetto February 11, 2022 | updated 3 years ago

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Getting on the same page was a struggle for the Denver Nuggets throughout Friday’s 108-102 loss to the Celtics in Boston.

The Nuggets turned it over 21 times, leading to 22 of Boston’s points. Nikola Jokic was responsible for nine of those turnovers, while Will Barton III, Aaron Gordon, Facundo Campazzo and Zeke Nnaji were responsible for two apiece.

“He knows that he can’t have nine turnovers,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Yes, they’re a good defensive team, but I can’t say all 21 turnovers that we had were because they were a great defensive team. I think there were definitely possessions where we just weren’t focused, weren’t sharp. We just weren’t on point the way we needed to be. That was probably the most disappointing thing was the turnovers all night long. They never stopped.”

Malone said that Jokic is physically and mentally exhausted, and Denver’s coach correctly predicted his star wouldn’t admit as much.

“I will definitely say it for him. He’s exhausted both mentally and physically,” Malone said. “We’ve just got to continue to try to help him.”

Jokic said fatigue is part of the business and added he feels fine. He said one of his turnovers came on a possession he should’ve taken a shot. Others came off bad passes or teammates not being ready.

“It doesn’t need to be excuses for the mistakes,” Jokic said, adding he’s committed more turnovers than he would like all season.

“I’m trying to make the right play. Sometimes it’s my mistake. Sometimes it’s the mistake of my teammates. I’m going to take it. It’s my turnover, of course.”

Jokic made the right play plenty of times, leading the Nuggets with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. He made 3 of 10 shots from 3-point range and finished 9 of 20 overall.

“I think, actually, the ones that I made were bad shots. And the ones that I missed, were actually good shots,” Jokic said of the 10 3s.

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“If I’m open, I’m going to shoot it.”

Aaron Gordon added 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Facundo Campazzo (14), Barton (13) and Bones Hyland (10) also scored in double figures for Denver. Hyland joined the starting lineup for the first time in his NBA career with Monte Morris in the league’s concussion protocols. Campazzo returned to the rotation and closed the game with the starters.

“I should’ve gotten Bones back in the game. As I was walking off the floor, that was my immediate regret,” Malone said. “Nothing against Facu. Facu played well, but (those are) valuable game minutes for Bones. Let him be out there, but also (he’s) a guy that can make a shot. They’re a solid defensive team. I just felt that our execution and our ability to make shots, obviously, wasn’t where it needed to be and what we’ve almost become accustomed to of late, putting up big numbers.”

After Jokic committed his first turnover on the game’s first possession, the Celtics scored the final seven points of the first quarter and the first five of the second to erase Denver’s early 11-point lead.

Campazzo’s third 3-pointer of his first stint put Denver back in front, and the Nuggets extended the lead to nine at halftime despite 14 turnovers.

“I tried to, first of all, just play with energy and give that to the team,” Campazzo said. “That energy, that passion for the game I have. I just try to be ready.”

Boston used some cold Denver shooting from 3 during a 16-5 run that saw the Celtics claim a two-point lead midway through the third. Denver regained a three-point lead to start the fourth and led by one with 3:46 left before Robert Williams III gave the Celtics the lead for good. Williams finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, while Marcus Smart added 22 points, seven assists and five steals.

“We gave up 28 transition points, a lot of that off our turnovers. We gave up the second-chance opportunities or we fouled, just careless fouls,” Malone said.

“Just too many careless possessions on both ends.”

There won’t be much time for the Nuggets to clean up the mistakes or get some valuable rest with a game scheduled for Saturday in Toronto.

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Vinny Benedetto

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