TD Garden hosts a thrilling 102-100 loss to the Nuggets in the Celtics’ inaugural home game.

With a last-second opportunity, Jayson Tatum’s fadeaway jumper went wide left.

34 points were scored by Nikola Joked. On Friday evening. USA TODAY Sports’ David Butler II
In January, there was only one game, but it seemed like so much more.

Whether the Celtics and Nuggets square off in the NBA Finals is a matter for speculation, but based on Friday’s game, the series in June has the potential to be unforgettable.

At TD Garden, Boston and Denver displayed their weapons before the Nuggets emerged victorious, winning 102–100. In the closing seconds, Jayson Tatum had a chance to win it all for Boston, but he missed an off-balance fadeaway.

With 24, Derrick White led the Celtics, followed by Tatum with 22, and Kristaps Porzingis with 21. The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who scored 35 and 34 points, respectively.

The Celtics only scored 39 points in the second half, but they are now 20-1 at home. After all, there won’t be a 41-0 slate.

Jokic soon replied to lead the Celtics to a 15-point quarter of his own, but Porzingis came out swinging and scored 15 of the team’s first 20 points. The Celtics tried to confuse the big man by frequently double-teaming him and throwing Porzingis, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday in his direction, but it didn’t matter what they did. Jokic demonstrated why he is the most valuable player in the league.

Nevertheless, after one quarter, the Celtics led 32–31, shooting 55% from the field, 50% from three, and dishing out assists on nine of their eleven baskets. Just once did either team turn the ball over while these two titans of the game clashed in front of an exuberant crowd.

With 4:49 remaining in the second quarter with Jokic on the court, the Celtics took a 52-44 lead despite not controlling the first few minutes without Jokic. After Tatum briefly clung on the rim during transition, the crowd became infuriated due to the no-call and technical foul that ensued. Tatum had earlier delivered a tremendous slam.

Porzingis kept causing havoc in the paint, Jaylen Brown slid in for two, and White established a rhythm. The Celtics were a cohesive team that constantly made the extra pass, passing up decent shots in favor of big ones.

Boston led 61-55 at the half after finishing the half with 15 assists against just one turnover. Murray, Jokic, and Porzingis all scored 19 points apiece, and all nine Celtics had positive plus-minus ratings.

The Nuggets took a 69-68 lead in the third quarter after a 14-7 run, but the Celtics responded with consecutive 3-pointers from White and Horford. After finding his shooting range and scoring 13 points in the quarter, White received a kiss on the head from Porzingis and the fans began chanting “M-V-P.”

He contributed to the Celtics’ 82-81 lead heading into the fourth. They were still ahead by just one, and they only had one turnover.

The fourth quarter began evenly before Tatum and Brown both made a basket inside to give Boston a 98-95 lead with 4:50 left. In a swift response, the Nuggets went on a 6-0 run to take the lead.

With 22.1 seconds left, Tatum had a chance to put the Celtics ahead with a slam but missed the layup. After a double lane violation, Porzingis won the tip, and Aaron Gordon made a free throw.

With 13.4 seconds remained, Joe Mazzulla called a timeout; nothing happened, so he called another one with 4.9 seconds left. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope against him, Tatum had a shot, but he was unable to deliver with the game on the line.