The Celtics missed 40 wins before 20 losses for the first time since 2019, raising doubts about their title chances.

The Boston Celtics, despite being defending champions, have fallen short of the 40/20 win-loss benchmark—achieving 40 wins before 20 losses—for the first time since 2019 after a 103–84 loss to the Denver Nuggets, marking their 20th defeat before 40 wins. This milestone, a loosely cited indicator popularized by Phil Jackson, has historically correlated with title contention, and only two teams in NBA history have won the championship without finishing in the top three of their conference. With 24 games left and currently second in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics still have a path to playoff success, but their recent performance has fueled growing skepticism among analysts and fans about their championship credentials.