Jayson Tatum had 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Boston Celtics beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night.

Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and the Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.

The Celtics and Nuggets got off to hot shooting starts in the opening minutes. Kristaps Porzingis scored nine early Boston points and Porter Jr, Westbrook, and Murray all hit threes for Denver. There wasn’t much defense being played until a Jayson Tatum block led to a Porzingis alley-oop on the other end.

Playing without center Nikola Jokic, who was scratched before the game with a non-COVID illness, t Nuggets pushed the Boston Celtics to the limit, but came up short, losing 118-106.

The Boston Celtics travel to the Denver Nuggets for a primetime matchup on TNT as two of this decade's NBA champions matchup. The Celtics enter tonight as the s

It took a late surge by Boston to turn ... opening quarter, the Celtics turned a block into points at the other end. Tatum engineered the first, swatting Christian Braun at the rim and then ...

The Denver Nuggets have made a final determination on their sick MVP. Sources inform Bennett Durando of The Denver Post that six-time All-NBA superstar center N

Celtics vs. Nuggets Odds, Prediction, & Best Player Prop Bets breaks down the key players in tonight's matchup between NBA Champion hopefuls.

January 8 - Jayson Tatum had 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Boston Celtics beat ... 14 points and Christian Braun finished with 12 points ...

The Celtics attempted 35 3-pointers ... It took several minutes to clean up. Christian Braun followed with a 3-pointer to tie it at 93. Boston went on a 15-0 run to help cement the win.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett believe the Nuggets are much better with Russell Westbrook running point guard and Jamal Murray at the two.