Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shared his thoughts on the game plan against Nikola Jokic in the NBA matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

© Katelyn MulcahyHead coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics reacts to a play during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers

The Boston Celtics secured a hard-fought 110-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon, relying on a balanced team effort to overcome the defending NBA champions.

Despite another impressive stat line from Nikola Jokic and strong performances from Denver’s starters, Joe Mazzulla’s squad executed their strategy effectively to claim the win.

When facing the Nuggets, most teams focus on finding ways to contain Jokić, the reigning NBA Finals MVP. However, after the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla revealed a different approach to handling Denver’s superstar.

“We didn’t talk about Jokić at all in the game plan. It’s not about him… you don’t really talk about him in a game plan. You talk about all the other stuff that you can control,” Mazzulla said, per Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog.

Despite not specifically game-planning for him, the Celtics managed to limit Jokić’s impact in key moments. The Serbian big man still put up strong numbers—20 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists—but lacked significant contributions from his supporting cast outside of Jamal Murray and Christian Braun.

On the other side, the Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who finished with 22 points and eight assists.

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hugs Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets after their game at TD Garden

Game breakdown in the first half

Both the Celtics and Nuggets have taken a slightly quieter path this season, allowing teams like the Cavaliers (East) and Thunder (West) to dominate the spotlight. However, with the NBA playoffs looming, both squads know the real battle begins in April.

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reflects after harsh loss against Cavaliers

Boston took control early, building a commanding lead before halftime. With just over two minutes left in the second quarter, a Jayson Tatum three-pointer pushed the Celtics’ advantage to 59-39.

Second half and Nuggets resurgence

Denver, however, responded after the break. The Nuggets found their rhythm behind a resurgent Murray, who had struggled in the first half with just four points.

His second-half explosion—scoring 22 of his 26 points after intermission—nearly brought Denver back. A clutch bucket from Murray with 1:15 left in the game cut the Celtics’ lead to just three at 102-99.

But Boston proved too deep and too disciplined down the stretch. Veteran big man Al Horford delivered a crucial performance, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, and a 7-for-12 shooting night in 35 minutes.

Derrick White also stepped up in the clutch, knocking down key three-pointers and coming up with a crucial steal to cap off his 17-point night.

Tatum, despite struggling from beyond the arc (1-for-7 from three), came close to a triple-double, posting 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.

For Denver, Murray’s 26-point effort and Braun’s surprising 24-point outing were not enough to overcome the Celtics’ depth. Jokic, while effective, was well-defended at times, finishing one assist shy of another triple-double.

With this win, Boston continues to solidify its position as one of the top contenders in the East, while Denver will look to make adjustments as they gear up for another deep NBA postseason run.