Nuggets-Celtics match delayed due to bizarre bent rim issue: ‘There’s a joke in there’

A game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets was delayed about 35 minutes because one of the rims bent during a dunk.

The incident happened with 8:06 left in the fourth quarter after center Robert Williams III threw a thunderous dunk and left the rim bent slightly. About 2 minutes later, NBA officials assembled crew members at the Ball Arena to level the rim.

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What seemed like an easy fix was not as more staff showed up to help.

“There’s a joke in there. How many guys does it take to fix a rim in an NBA game?” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, adding the whole situation was a “buzzkill.”

Celtics star Jaylen Brown was unhappy with the situation after the game. Brown is vice president of the National Basketball Players Association. He said there was “no communication” about what was happening on the pitch while the rim was being worked on.

A worker uses a level to check the rim after it was bent during a dunk by Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Denver.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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“That’s how injuries and stuff happen,” Brown said. “This whole process was mishandled, in my opinion, and that had an effect as well. But luckily no one was hurt.”

Brown led the Celtics with 30 points and eight rebounds, but Boston fell short.

Workers struggle to replace the rim during a Celtics-Nuggets game in Denver, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Denver won the game 123-111. Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the win.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.