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, Tim Hardaway added 14 as the Nuggets bounced back from a 1-2 trip out of the All-Star break, which included 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 hand, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points, who just returned to the lineup after sitting out Tuesday night at Phoenix due to a right knee contusion.
Boston had won five straight and nine of 10 before running out of steam. Derrick White added 20 points.
Jokic struggled from the field and from behind the arc, shooting 11 of 28 overall and 4 of 13 on three-pointers, but helped spark an 11-0 run to end the third quarter that gave the Nuggets a 10-point lead heading into the final period.
Denver extended the lead to 17 on Jonas Valanciunas’ tip-in midway through the fourth until Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla took out his starters.
The Nuggets honored Doug Moe with a tribute video at the first timeout, who won 432 games in his 10 seasons as the Nuggets coach, died Feb.17 at 87.
Both teams will play on Friday night: the Celtics host the Nets, while the Nuggets visit Oklahoma City.
