The Denver Nuggets outlasted the Boston Celtics 103-94 despite rough shooting on Wednesday night.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 30 points and 12 rebounds and Tim Hardaway added 14 as the Nuggets bounced back from a 1-2 trip coming out of the All-Star break, including a loss at Golden State on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets played most of the game without Jamal Murray after logging 7:51 due to an illness and did not return.
On the other end, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points, who just returned to the lineup after sitting out Tuesday night in Phoenix due to a right knee contusion.
Boston had won five in a row and nine of 10 before running out of steam. Derrick White added 20 points.
Jokic struggled from the field and behind the arc, shooting 11 of 28 overall and 4 of 13 on three-pointers, but sparked an 11-0 run to end the third quarter, giving the Nuggets a 10-point lead heading into the final period.
Denver extended the lead to 17 after Jonas Valanciunas’ tip-in midway through the fourth until Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla retired his starters.
The Nuggets honored Doug Moe with a tribute video the first time out, who won 432 games in his 10 seasons as Nuggets coach and died on Feb. 17 at the age of 87.
Both teams play on Friday evening: the Celtics host the Nets, while the Nuggets visit Oklahoma City.
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