Boston Celtics’ Fuel for Showdown with Nuggets?

The Boston Celtics experienced one of the most peculiar basketball games of the 2023-24 NBA season when they squandered their largest fourth-quarter lead in franchise history against a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers team on March 5 in Cleveland.

Despite missing All-Star Donovan Mitchell and another starter, Max Strus, the Cavaliers appeared overmatched for the first three quarters. The game took a drastic turn in the fourth quarter, where chaos ensued.

The Celtics held a commanding 93-71 lead with just under nine minutes remaining, only to witness a remarkable 34-13 run by the Cavaliers. Cleveland capitalized on their momentum, averaging 3.8 points per minute compared to the Celtics’ meager 1.4 points per minute.

While the Cavaliers deserve credit for their 105-104 victory, the Celtics were hindered by a combination of scorching Cavaliers shooting and poor offensive performance. Just two days after their impressive win against the Golden State Warriors, where they made 25 threes at a 51% clip, the Celtics struggled to find their rhythm in the fourth quarter.

In an unexpected twist, the Celtics failed to make a single jump shot in the fourth quarter, while the Cavaliers converted 8 out of 11 attempts from beyond the arc. Dean Wade emerged as a surprising hero for the Cavaliers, contributing a career-high 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range off the bench.

The Celtics now have a day of rest before their highly anticipated matchup against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets. The stunning collapse against the Cavaliers may serve as additional motivation for the Celtics to bounce back with a victory.

Reflecting on the loss, Kristaps Porzingis viewed it as a beneficial learning experience for the team, emphasizing the importance of occasional setbacks in maintaining perspective and humility.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the value of learning from losses and applying those lessons to future games. Despite the disappointment of the defeat, the Celtics remain focused on their ultimate goal of contending for a championship.

As they prepare to face the Nuggets, the Celtics aim to rediscover their winning form and respond with a performance more reflective of their capabilities. With their eyes set on redemption, the Celtics are eager to embark on a new winning streak following their recent setback.