BOSTON — The Celtics did something each of the last two nights that they’ve struggled mightily to do all season: finish off a close game in the fourth quarter.
The wins haven’t exactly come against quality competition, but at least one Celtics player is pleased with the trend he’s seeing.
“We’re learning how to win at the end of close games,” said guard Avery Bradley, whose late steal Wednesday helped propel Boston to a 104-100 win over the Denver Nuggets. “A few years ago when (former coach Doc Rivers) was here, we had a lot of vets on the team that obviously knew how to close games out. We’re a very young team now and we’re learning every single day. We’re trusting in (head coach Brad Stevens)’ plays and we’re trusting in each other, and that’s big for us, being a young team. Anyone can make a big shot for us, we just all have to have that faith.”
The game Tuesday night that preceded the Nuggets nailbiter wasn’t quite as tight, but the New York Knicks did cut Boston’s lead to six in the fourth before the Celtics pulled away for a 108-97 victory.
Bradley scored a team-high 43 points on 20-of-39 shooting over both ends of the back-to-back.
— Jae Crowder has appeared re-energized since moving back into a reserve role.
Not only is Crowder scoring more (27 points over his last two games) than he did through much of his 13-game stint as Jeff Green’s replacement in the starting lineup, but he’s also been able to have a greater impact defensively, as evidenced by his game-saving steal Wednesday night.
“It’s a lot easier on the defensive end (coming off the bench),” Crowder said. “I’ve been trying to really make a statement and say that if the first unit is down, we’ll try to come in and give it energy. If the first unit is giving energy we’ll try to sustain it.”
Crowder’s versatility has been a boon for Stevens, as the coach has slotted him in at the two, three and four since the forward rejoined the second unit.
“I like switching it up,” Crowder said. “… Just trying to be versatile and create a matchup problem.”
— Players sometimes do not last long in Boston nowadays — Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson, who visited his former teammates in the Celtics’ locker room after the game, is proof of that — but Crowder said he would like to stick around if given the opportunity.
“(I) would, for sure,” he said. “Because as a young team, I would like to grow with them. It’s a great city, great fan base. Now, I’m feeling comfortable, feeling at home, and I want to just keep growing as a player and growing as a team.”
— Celtics forward Tayshaun Prince dressed Wednesday but did not see playing time for a third straight game. The extent of his action came when the team trainer fitted a massive wrap/pad/ice pack onto Prince’s left hip during the first half.
— Banner 17 had yet to be raised the last time a crowd as small as Wednesday’s showed up to a Celtics game.
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Thumbnail photo via Steve Dykes/USA TODAY Sports Images
