Key Takeaways:
- Jamal Murray delivered 22 points and 17 assists as Denver ended Boston’s five-game winning streak on Wednesday night
- Peyton Watson led the Nuggets with a 30-point performance during a decisive 14-0 fourth-quarter surge
- Jaylen Brown tallied 33 points and Neemias Queta secured a career-high 20 rebounds for the Celtics
Match Analysis
The Denver Nuggets overcame fourth-quarter adversity and the absence of their three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to topple the Boston Celtics 114-110 at TD Garden. With both Jokic and Boston’s All-Star Jayson Tatum sidelined, the contest remained tightly contested, featuring 26 lead changes and nine ties.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Nuggets were trailing by three, but orchestrated a critical 14-0 burst to seize control, moving in front 101-90. Boston managed to cut the deficit to three points in the final moments, yet Denver maintained composure to secure victory and snap the Celtics’ five-game winning run.
Coming home with another W#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/KR9wbt25tb
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 8, 2026
Key Player Performances
Jamal Murray returned to the starting five for Denver and made a major impact with 22 points and 17 assists, effectively quarterbacking the Nuggets’ offence. Peyton Watson shouldered the scoring load with 30 points, igniting the decisive fourth-quarter rally alongside contributions from Zeke Nnaji, who added eight points in the period. Boston’s Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 33, while Neemias Queta dominated the glass, pulling down a career-best 20 rebounds.
Statistical Breakdown
| Team | Final Score | Top Scorer | Top Rebounder | Top Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | 114 | Peyton Watson (30) | Jamal Murray (8) | Jamal Murray (17) |
| Boston Celtics | 110 | Jaylen Brown (33) | Neemias Queta (20) | Jaylen Brown, Derick White (4) |
Free-Throw Woes and Other Notes
The Celtics struggled at the line early, commencing 1-for-6 as Jaylen Brown missed two consecutive free throws while home fans chanted “M-V-P!” The team eventually converted 9-of-15 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Nuggets, who had lost six of the previous ten after launching the season at 20-6, gained traction in the Western Conference standings. Since Nikola Jokic suffered a hyperextended left knee, Denver have recorded a 3-2 mark. Both Murray and Christian Braun returned following absences in Monday’s overtime defeat against Philadelphia.
Looking Ahead
Denver will host Atlanta on Friday night, while Boston prepare to welcome Toronto on the same evening.
