Preview: Celtics at Nuggets, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 DENVER (Interstat) — A potential NBA Finals preview unfolds at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as the Boston Celtics visit the Denver Nuggets in a marquee interconference matchup. The Celtics (37-19) arrive with the league’s second-best record, riding a wave of momentum after a dominant 111-89 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. They have won eight of their last 10 games. The Nuggets (36-22), reigning champions of the Western Conference, look to stabilize after a 128-117 loss at Golden State, which snapped a two-game win streak. All eyes will be on the point guard-center duel between Boston’s Payton Pritchard and Denver’s Nikola Jokic. Pritchard has been on a sensational run, averaging 24.2 points and 7.1 assists over his last nine games, including a 30-point, 8-assist performance against the Lakers. His surge has been a catalyst for Boston’s offense. Jokic, the two-time MVP, continues to post historic numbers. He is averaging a triple-double in February (26.1 points, 15.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists) and is coming off a 35-point, 20-rebound, 12-assist outing in the loss to the Warriors. Containing him remains the league’s most daunting task. This is the second meeting this season. The Nuggets won the first matchup 114-110 in Boston on Jan. 7, behind 34 points from Jamal Murray. The Celtics will seek to avenge that loss and improve their standing in a tight race for the league’s best record. For Denver, this game opens a critical homestand against elite competition. For Boston, it is the start of a challenging three-game road trip against Western Conference foes. With both teams featuring top-tier talent and championship aspirations, Wednesday’s contest offers a high-stakes measuring stick six weeks before the playoffs begin. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. MST.