In a matchup of the top teams in the Eastern and Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets got a triple double from Nikola Jokic and also hit 17 three-pointers on Sunday night to defeat the Boston Celtics 123-111 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Boston led by three 1:27 into the first quarter, and that is the last time they would lead for the rest of the night. Denver regained their lead on a Bruce Brown three-pointer, one of the many the Nuggets made from long distance on the night. The hosts led 37-28 after one, and then after building that advantage to 15 in the second quarter the Celtics would close the first half on a 16-9 run to cut it to 62-54 at the halftime break. Jaylen Brown drained a three-pointer to pull Boston within five early in the third quarter, but Denver was red hot from the floor and from the three-point arc as they pulled back ahead by 15. The Nuggets hit three more from long distance over the first 2:56 of the fourth capped off by a Bones Hyland three-pointer to increase to their biggest lead of the night at 107-89, as they improved to 24-12 on the season.
Once again, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led Boston. Brown had 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Tatum put in 25 points, and added seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Derrick White was the only other Celtic in double figures with 13 points as the loss snapped a four game win streak. Jokic finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in the Denver win. Bruce Brown had 21, Michael Porter Jr. 19, Aaron Gordon 18, and Hyland scored 17 points. The Nuggets went 17-30 from three-point territory and overall shot 57% from the field. Brown had four from behind the arc, while Hyland and Porter Jr. hit three a piece. Boston is now 26-11 and their next stop on the four game road trip is Oklahoma City where they battle the Thunder on Tuesday night.
Recap by Chris LessnerÂ
