Denver started hot and took a seven-point lead into halftime, but Boston found its groove defensively over the final two frames. After allowing 32 and 31 points in the first two quarters, the C's allowed only 40 total points in the second half.
Unsurprisingly, Joe Mazzulla's group didn't hesitate to fire away from deep. The Celtics attempted a whopping 61 3-pointers and made 20 of them (32.8 percent). Sixteen of those 3s were made by the second unit, which stepped up to propel Boston to a 107-103 victory.
The C's and Nuggets will stay in Abu Dhabi for a rematch on Sunday. The opening tip is set for 10 a.m. ET with coverage starting at 9:30 a.m. on NBC Sports Boston.
Here are three quick takeaways from Friday's preseason opener.
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