Peyton Watson delivered the best scoring performance of his career and Jamal Murray orchestrated Denver’s offense down the stretch as the Nuggets closed strong to defeat the Boston Celtics 114-110 on Wednesday night.
Watson poured in 30 points, while Murray finished with 22 points and a season-high 17 assists for Denver, which erased a late fourth-quarter deficit with a game-changing 14-0 run.
The matchup unfolded without the headliners on either side, as Denver played without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Boston was missing All-Star forward Jayson Tatum. Even so, the game was tightly contested throughout, featuring constant momentum swings, with neither team able to create separation until the final minutes.
Boston held a 90-87 edge midway through the fourth quarter before Denver seized control. Watson scored nine points during the decisive surge, and Zeke Nnaji added eight as the Nuggets suddenly turned a close game into a double-digit advantage.
The Celtics made one last push, trimming the deficit to three points in the closing seconds after trailing by as many as 12 late, but Denver was able to run out the clock.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points, and center Neemias Queta dominated the glass with a career-best 20 rebounds. Boston entered the night riding a five-game winning streak.
The victory was an important one for Denver, which has struggled recently after a strong start to the season. The Nuggets have now gone 3-2 since Jokic went down with a hyperextended left knee. Murray and Christian Braun returned to the starting lineup after sitting out an overtime loss at Philadelphia earlier in the week.
Boston had trouble capitalizing at the free-throw line, missing six of its first attempts and finishing 9 of 15 overall.
Up next:
Denver hosts Atlanta on Friday night.
Boston returns home to face Toronto on Friday night.
