BOSTON — For just a moment, a loose basketball was unclaimed in the lane, representing a chance that had eluded the Nuggets all game: a chance to tie
They just cut their deficit to three. Thy had gotten the ensuing stop. But Jaylen Brown’s missed shot was tapped into no man’s land, in the middle of the paint. Derrick White came swooping in from the perimeter and buried a second-chance floater. It gave the Celtics a five-point lead with 53.7 seconds remaining, driving a nail in Denver’s coffin Sunday in a 110-103 loss.
“You’re never looking for moral victories,” coach Michael Malone said, “but when I walk out of this arena today, I feel really good about our group.