ABU DHABI: Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is not shying away from declaring his MVP ambitions but says his personal goals will never come at the expense of the team’s success.

The Celtics wrapped up their preseason trip in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with a second victory in three days over the Denver Nuggets, routing the 2022-2023 champions 130-104 at Etihad Arena.

Boston went a league-best 64-18 en route to the 2023-2024 NBA title, but the one team they were unable to beat all season were the Denver Nuggets.

The tables were turned during the two preseason games they had in the UAE capital though, where Boston outplayed their opponents, particularly with a 42-16 run against Denver in the third quarter.

The Celtics stuck to their starting lineup from Friday’s game — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kornet, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday.

However, the Nuggets swapped Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon with Julian Strawther and Vlatko Cancar, who joined Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun and Jamal Murray on the floor on Sunday.

Newly-acquired guard Russell Westbrook, who made his debut for the Nuggets on Friday, did not participate in the game, nor did Porter Jr. and Gordon.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Brown scored a game-high 21 points for the Celtics, with five other players on the squad hitting double digits, including 17 points from Tatum.

Tatum, whose three-point shooting let him down during the playoffs last season, says he has been working on his shooting form and feels he has made progress ahead of the start of the new campaign.

The 26-year-old power forward shot 43 percent from beyond the arc on Sunday and had a 43 field-goal percentage.

Discussing his MVP ambitions for next season, which tips off on Oct. 22, Tatum said: “Everybody should have individual goals and we’re all mature enough and know what it’s like to have team success that nothing gets in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish and be as special and great as we were last year and even better this year.”

The Celtics are trying to become the first team to successfully defend their NBA crown since the Golden State Warriors went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

“Whether the guys want to make All-Defensive Team or All-Star or being MVP, you should be able to want to go after that. That means that you’re having a hell of a year, that means that you’re dominating, that means that you’re being the best version of yourself, which we want everybody to be,” continued Tatum.

“So not chasing MVP in spite of, costing us games or anything like that, but if I’m in that conversation, that means we’re one of the best teams, that means I’m playing the right way and everybody on the team is having success and we’re going in the right path.”

Three-time MVP Jokic top-scored for the Nuggets on Sunday with 20 points in 18 minutes, 30 seconds of play, but the team’s second unit and further combinations off the bench struggled to keep up with the Celtics after halftime.

“That third quarter was a far cry of who we need to be,” admitted Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “I don’t get caught up in the losses in preseason, I get caught up in getting better and that’s the most disappointing thing about tonight.”

TOKYO: The 10th Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday was a thrilling event, with SASAKI Daisuke coming from behind on second-favorite Arte Veloce to clinch the victory.

In the 1,600-meter race for 2-year-olds, Arte Veloce dropped back from a good early position before overtaking all the other horses in a single straight stretch, beating the fourth favorite, Taisei Current and winning by one body length. It was Arte Veloce’s first major win.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, as well as other Arab ambassadors and officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry attended the event.

After handing the trophy to the winner, Ambassador Binzagr told Arab News Japan: “This is a beautiful occasion that brings people together. It’s amazing how cultural events are extremely important to emphasize our common values and love for sports, particularly regarding horses. It’s a fascination that can tie humanity and bring peace to the world.”

At a luncheon preceding the race, the Ambassador said: “I am honored to stand before you today to hand over the winning trophy, which bears the name of the Kingdom. On behalf of my country, I am proud to represent its Horse Racing Club at the prestigious Tokyo Racecourse.”

“Our union here reflects the extent of cooperation that ties our two countries together in the field of sports and the depth of our mutual partnership on many spheres of civilization and culture.”

Ambassador Binzagr said he was proud that Saudi Arabia hosted the Japan Cup yearly, which he described as “a special event.” He also highlighted the significance of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, which serves as a precursor to the Japan Cup and is a testament to the growing international interest in horse racing.

“I invite all of you to visit us and be present at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in the capital Riyadh on the day of the Japan Cup, scheduled for February 7, 2025.”

AKITANI Misaki, the General Manager of Tokyo Racecourse, echoed Ambassador Binzagr’s words of unity: “(In) the world of horse racing – we have been, and we are and will be, united as one. The world of horse racing is the perfect vehicle to create common ground among us.”

Winning jockey Daisuke Sasaki was quoted by local media as saying: “I rode this horse because I believed in its strength. It had a great start, so I thought it would be a waste to pull it a little too hard, so I chose to pull it back a step and concentrate on keeping it under control. He’s best at around 1,600 meters, and I’m sure he’ll do well in the bigger races.”

Trainer SUGAI Shosuke added: “The horse was in the inside lane and ran the race as expected. Sasaki knew the horse well and made him hold back. He knew the inside of the track was bad, so I told him to put the horse in a good spot. He responded to that, and I think he did a great job.”

This article was originally published in Arab News Japan