Kyrie Irving will play tonight versus Nuggets, Jokić a game-time decision
Kyrie Irving will play tonight, according to Brad Stevens.— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 13, 2017
Kyrie is leading the Celtics in scoring this season, averaging 23.7 points on 49% shooting, 3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Al Horford won't suit up tonight, although his absence isn't injury related. It's a planned day-off, to give the big-man some rest, as the next twenty-five-odd days will be the busiest that the Cs will see all season. Don't be surprised to see more Popovich-like DNPs during the next few weeks.
Jokić ranks third among passing centers in the NBA with his 4.6 assists. The player above him: Al Horford, who is averaging 5.3 dimes per night. It's a true bummer that we won't be able to see two of the best play-making bigs in the league square off.
The Celtics will go small versus the Nuggets, as Marcus Smart will start in place of Horford.
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As for the Nuggets, their star center Nikola Jokić will be a game-time decision, as he's missed the last six games because of a sprained ankle. Jokić has been impressing everyone this season, including Brad Stevens, with his 15.5 points on 51% shooting, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.Brad Stevens says the Celtics decided a couple of weeks ago that Al Horford wouldn’t play tonight in order to give him a three consecutive days off.— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) December 13, 2017
Mike Malone won’t say whether or not Nikola Jokic will play. Says Jokic is “questionable” and will test himself out on the floor here in the coming minutes.— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) December 13, 2017
Stevens said Jokic is one of his favorite players to watch because of the way he passes the ball. "He's a special passer and playmaker."— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 13, 2017
Jokić ranks third among passing centers in the NBA with his 4.6 assists. The player above him: Al Horford, who is averaging 5.3 dimes per night. It's a true bummer that we won't be able to see two of the best play-making bigs in the league square off.
The Celtics will go small versus the Nuggets, as Marcus Smart will start in place of Horford.
One last thing:Horford is OUT (rest). Marcus is IN! Cs go small versus Nuggets #Celtics— OWaukewan (@odiewaukewanNBA) December 13, 2017
Starters:
Kyrie Irving
Marcus Smart
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Aron Baynes
Oh baby...Look who's out of the boot 👀🙌 pic.twitter.com/3RN5EOOJ0c— Celtics on NBCSB (@NBCSCeltics) December 13, 2017
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