Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum Detail Celtics’ Last Possession in Loss to Nuggets: 'Trust Your Best Player'

In Friday night's potential Finals preview, the Denver Nuggets snapped the Boston Celtics 20-0 winning streak at TD Garden.

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The Boston Celtics are no longer undefeated at home after falling to the Denver Nuggets, 102-100. They reached 20-0 this season, not dropping a regular-season game at TD Garden since last March.

It was a thriller against the defending champs as it was a back-and-forth defensive battle where Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray performed like the elite tandem they were last NBA Finals.

The Celtics had 67 points from Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White, but were out-rebounded by Denver by nearly double-digits. Jokic was in full effect with his 34-point, 12 rebounds, and a nine-assist effort on 14-22 shooting.

When Boston got a stop on an Aaron Gordon corner triple that sailed into Tatum's hands, he sloppily took it in transition, nearly losing it against three Nuggets. His reverse layup just rolled off the rim. The Celtics eventually got the ball back in a chaotic ending, but Tatum missed his signature fade-away to force overtime as time expired.

Joe Mazzulla had to use both of the team's final timeouts on the last possession, and he was asked about it postgame.

"Well, they had a foul to give," Mazzulla said. "So, I was making sure that we just got the shot and got the set that we wanted, because I wasn't sure when they were gonna use their foul to give. So, getting JB in his spot, I thought he got into the paint and did a good job kicking it out, and then they were about to use their foul to give, but I called the timeout. And then just got JT to his spot and tried to make a play."

Mazzulla was then asked about the layup Tatum missed in transition.

"The best player has the ball and an opportunity, and he got, whether it was on two, three guys he got a layup, and he just missed it. I mean, the balance is that you trust your best player to make a play, and just didn't make it."

Tatum assessed the ending of the game as well.

"Yeah, I think I kind of rushed it," he said. "And that's on me. In the back of my mind, I wasn't sure if they were going to foul. They had a foul to give. I had more time than I gave myself. So, I should have took some more time. But you can't go back. So, it's something I can learn from."

The Celtics will now go down to Texas to face the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks in a back-to-back.

"We don't lose a lot, so when we do lose, it feels worse than it is," Tatum said. "But it's still just one game. We played a really good team today, so [expletive] happens. Just got to get ready for the next one."

Further Reading

Celtics Maturation Evident in Potential Finals Preview vs. Nuggets

Here's What Stood Out as the Nuggets Handed the Celtics Their First Home Loss this Season

Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

Ime Udoka Assesses Tatum and Brown's Growth Since Coaching Them: 'A Lot of Potential That I Haven't Tapped Into'

Jrue Holiday Responds to Celtics Saying He's Sacrificing Most: 'Not Mad at My Situation'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'