Fans waited months for basketball, and it’s finally here. The last two NBA champions, the Celtics and Nuggets clashed in Abu Dhabi. None of the marquee starters played much, still, the game didn’t fail to have fans on the edge of their seats. Toward the end though, a weird sequence took place. The Nuggets desperately fouled despite leading 104-103. Why? Well, they were ahead of the scoreboard that had its own swing.

During one of the clutch possessions, the Shamrocks’ JD Davidson emphatically blocked the shot to keep the reigning champions in the lead. The scoreboard operator though mistakenly gave the Nuggets two points for the possession. Upon the intervention from the Celtics, the Nuggets, who were celebrating a supposed lead-taking bucket, had their happiness stolen away.

Eventually, the scores were rightfully corrected and the Celtics held their nerves toward the end. Toward the end, with the game away separated by three points, the Celtics used a tactic that the Pacers failed to use during their ECF. They fouled the Nuggets and ensured to reclaim possession upon the intentional miss.

JD Davidson hit the final four free throws for the Celtics, who won their first game since the title 107-103. However, it didn’t come without Denver pushing them to their limits.

The Celtics bench’s resilience stands out against the Nuggets

The game began with an obviously slow tempo. The starters tried to generate their rhythm, with both teams shooting poorly. Yet, with time as the pace grew, Denver had the clear advantage. Nikola Jokic picked apart the Celtics’ renowned defense in the second quarter, on a night he finished with a super-efficient 14 points.

His contributions allowed the Nuggets to command the paint. They outscored the Celtics by 20 points on the interior. It seemed to be Denver’s game. At the peak, they held a 12-point lead. Enters Payton Pritchard. He might have been the smallest man on the court, but his splashy shooting turned the game around.

He scored a game-high 21 points, including 6 threes, his only method of scoring for the night besides free throws. The Shamrocks relied heavily on their distance shooting. They attempted 61 threes for the game, nearly double that of the Nuggets. Efficiency was beat by volume to be bluntly put.

The Nuggets shot the ball better throughout the game. But the Celtics’ suffocating defense paved the way for additional possessions, which the Celtics capitalized on. Their offensive rebounding also allowed for 4 more second-chance points. These small made the game-turning difference for the defending champions who have started off on the right foot.

The Nuggets won’t take the loss with much gravitas though. It’s only preseason and as far as the starting units go, there was a lot of cohesion between them. They managed to outdo their rivals. Furthermore, the dynamic of Russell Westbrook and Jokic didn’t seem to clash at all. Brodie tallied 8 assists and 12 points in his debut, his first score coming from a Joker dime.

The Celtics’ starters didn’t seem to find the same wavelength the Nuggets did. Jayson Tatum led with 12 points, which included 3 triples, a sign of his jump shot gradually being repaired. Brown added 8 points to the mix but never found his range.

Judging from what you saw, do you think the Celtics have what it takes to repeat their title success? Let us know your views in the comments below.