Celtics at Nuggets
THE STORY: JaVale McGee is expected to make his Nuggets’ debut when Denver hosts the Boston Celtics on Saturday. McGee, 24, a 7-foot center who was acquired from Washington for Nene at the trade deadline, will add speed to a deep Denver lineup which already loves to run. McGee is averaging 11.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, and figures to improve in a winning environment. The Celtics are 2-2 on their season-long eight-game road trip following their 120-95 loss at Sacramento on Friday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CS New England (Celtics), Altitude (Nuggets)
ABOUT THE CELTICS (23-20): Teams reportedly expressed interest in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce at the trade deadline, but the price was too high. The face of the Celtics is expected to change at season’s end, though, with Allen and Kevin Garnett in the final year of their contracts. Boston allowed 41 points in the third quarter Friday and was outrebounded 45-28. Pierce and Allen played 35 and 33 minutes, respectively, so stamina could be an issue in the thin air of Denver. The Celtics are 8-3 since the All-Star break and are a respectable 5-5 in the second of back-to-back games.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (24-20): McGee also brings a strong shot-blocking element to Denver – he is second in the NBA with 2.46 per game. Ronny Turiaf, who was also acquired in the trade, is expected to be waived to make room on the roster for Wilson Chandler. Chandler, a 6-foot-8 forward, played in China this season after averaging 15.3 points – 12.5 with Denver after being acquired from New York – in 2010-11. He is expected to re-sign Sunday or Monday. The Nuggets have alternated wins and losses in the first six games of their season-high nine-game homestand.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams have split the last four meetings, with the home team winning – and covering – each time.
2. Denver is 23-6 in its last 29 against the Eastern Conference.
3. The Celtics are seventh in the East, 3½ games ahead of Milwaukee and New York. The Nuggets are eighth in the West, two games in front of Phoenix.