Boston Celtics defeat the Denver Nuggets: 118-114

Feb 10, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) celebrates after making a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics were facing their toughest challenge yet without Rajon Rondo. They’re taking on the Denver Nuggets who’re coming off of a fresh nine game winning streak. They ended up needing three periods to close the deal 118-114.

This is the Celtics seventh straight win without Rajon Rondo. For much of that streak, the C’s offense had turned up a notch. It went back into grind mode tonight just for this triple overtime thriller. Lets get into the grades.

Starters

Courtney Lee: D

This wasn’t really the best game for Lee in any matter of speaking. He only converted 1-5 shot attempts and had a minimal impact in the game. He was average defensively, but that wasn’t enough to have him in the waning moments of the game.

Avery Bradley: B

Bradley had himself a game. This may be his best contest since returning to the C’s this season. He kept up the defensive pressure as the Nuggets were bringing the ball up the floor and that disrupted a lot of the Nuggets sets. He added 13 points and four assists to that.

Paul Pierce: A-

Paul Pierce’s fingerprints were all over tonight’s game whether that was taking a boneheaded three or making a spectacular assist. Pierce had another triple double and has really embraced Rondo’s role as the playmaker on this team. He scored 27 points and made 5-9 threes. What make be the most important part of Paul’s stat line was the 14 rebonds he got tonight along with 14 assists.

Brandon Bass: C

Bass had a pretty average night tonight. He was always a threat to make that midrange jump shot, but he was relatively ineffective. He only scored five points tonight and coupled that with four rebounds. He went 2-7 from the field.

Kevin Garnett: B+

Garnett was a key cog tonight for the Celtics in plenty of ways. He scored 20 points along with 18 rebounds and six assists. He was inefficient shooting from the field only hitting nine of 24 shots but the mark he left on every other category of the game was outstanding.

Sixth Man & Bench

Jason Terr

Jason Terry made 10-22 shots tonight for 26 points but went 5-14 from beyond the arch. He had the ball in his hands a lot tonight and worked very well with Paul Pierce in screening and working the pick and roll game.

Jeff Green: B

Jeff Green was key in the Celtics success and keeping them in the game. They were out of it until Green hit a three to tie the game up and they wouldn’t have won without him. He shot 6/10 from the field for 17 points with four rebounds.

Leandro Barbosa

Barbosa was pretty ineffective tonight only shooting 2-5 from the field for five points. He did a good job initiating the offense early but that stopped in the latter moments of the game.