Celtics fend off Nuggets to avoid three-game slide

Jaylen Brown had 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds to help the Boston Celtics end a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Denver Nuggets 110-103 Sunday.

The Celtics were coming off losses to Detroit and Cleveland, and avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Jayson Tatum added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Boston, which also received 19 points and eight rebounds from Al Horford, 17 points from Derrick White and eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench from Neemias Queta.

Denver trailed 102-99 following Jamal Murray's layup with 1:15 to play, but the Nuggets failed to get any closer. Boston led 106-99 following a basket by Al Horford with 33.4 seconds remaining.

Murray led Denver with 26 points, adding six boards and seven assists. Christian Braun tossed in 24 points and Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

The matchup featured the last two NBA champions. Boston beat Dallas for the title last year, and Denver defeated Miami in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Boston's Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (jammed finger) each missed their second straight game. Denver was without Aaron Gordon (left ankle sprain).

The Celtics led 32-20 after one quarter and 61-48 at halftime. Boston's largest lead in the first half came after Tatum made a 3-pointer that gave the Celtics a 59-39 advantage with 2:35 to play.

Denver used a 10-0 run to trim its deficit to five points with 17.1 seconds left in the third, and Boston had an 83-77 advantage entering the fourth.

Denver's Julian Strawther left the game and went to the locker room with an apparent leg injury with 3:22 remaining in the third.

Boston won both regular-season games against Denver. The Celtics prevailed 118-106 in Denver on Jan. 7.

The loss wrapped up Denver's four-game road trip. The Nuggets went 2-2 on the trip.

--Field Level Media