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Jayson Tatum scores 29, Porzingis adds 25 as Celtics hold off depleted Nuggets 118-106
DENVER (AP) Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and the Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.
Porzingis had 11 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday contributed 19 points. The Celtics attempted 35 3-pointers, which was well below their season average of 50.17. Instead, they outscored the Nuggets by a 60-46 margin in the paint.
Russell Westbrook had 26 points for Denver and eight turnovers. Michael Porter Jr. added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets dropped to 10-7 at home. They were 33-8 last season.
Trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Nuggets rallied to make sure the game stayed tight down the stretch. There was a momentary break with 8:56 remaining when a cup of ice spilled on the court. 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.
The game between the last two NBA champions was setting up to feature two of the top players in the league. But Jokic went from probable to questionable to finally ruled out. The Nuggets were also missing Aaron Gordon (calf).
Celtics: Stellar defense down the stretch, including steals from Al Horford and Tatum.
Nuggets: The bench had a solid showing with Julian Strawther scoring 19 and Peyton Watson 14.
Porter appeared to be fouled by Sam Hauser going in for a dunk with 2:57 left in the third quarter and Denver trailing 80-77. The Celtics won the challenge.
There were 10 lead changes and eight ties.
The Nuggets turn around and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, while the Celtics play at home against Sacramento on Friday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Kristaps Porzingis vs. Dario Saric (Al Horford gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 |  | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:22 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point pullup jump shot | 2-3 |
| 11:15 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:13 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | Christian Braun turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 10:41 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point bank jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:27 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:17 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point running pullup jump shot | 2-6 |
| 10:05 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 5-6 |
| 9:57 | | Jamal Murray misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 9:56 | | Christian Braun offensive rebound | ||
| 9:53 | | Dario Saric misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:49 | | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 9:37 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:34 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Al Horford steals) | ||
| 9:03 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 8-6 |
| 8:45 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Dario Saric assists) | 8-9 |
| 8:33 | | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 8:33 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-9 |
| 8:33 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-9 |
| 8:13 | | +3 | Russell Westbrook makes three point jump shot (Christian Braun assists) | 10-12 |
| 8:03 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point cutting dunk | 12-12 |
| 7:53 | | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Dario Saric draws the foul) | ||
| 7:43 | | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:40 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:33 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point cutting layup (Jaylen Brown assists) | 14-12 |
| 7:15 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Kristaps Porzingis steals) | ||
| 7:11 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk | 16-12 |
| 7:10 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:56 | | +3 | Russell Westbrook makes three point jump shot (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 16-15 |
| 6:37 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 19-15 |
| 6:24 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 19-17 |
| 6:06 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving finger roll layup | 21-17 |
| 6:05 | | Celtics delay of game violation | ||
| 5:52 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 21-19 |
| 5:41 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:22 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:20 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Murray steals) | ||
| 5:02 | | Jayson Tatum blocks Christian Braun's two point running layup | ||
| 4:59 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 4:56 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Jayson Tatum assists) | 23-19 |
| 4:36 | | Jrue Holiday blocks Dario Saric's two point layup | ||
| 4:36 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:30 | | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 4:29 | | Jamal Murray offensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Jamal Murray misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:28 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 4:17 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:14 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:56 | | Luke Kornet shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 3:56 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 |
| 3:56 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-21 |
| 3:40 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup | 25-21 |
| 3:27 | | Luke Kornet blocks Zeke Nnaji's two point driving dunk | ||
| 3:24 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 3:18 | | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Sam Hauser assists) | 28-21 |
| 2:55 | | Jamal Murray misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:54 | | Payton Pritchard defensive rebound | ||
| 2:48 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 30-21 |
| 2:48 | | Jamal Murray shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 2:48 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:48 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-21 |
| 2:34 | | +2 | Julian Strawther makes two point driving floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 31-23 |
| 2:19 | | Russell Westbrook personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 2:09 | | Peyton Watson blocks Kristaps Porzingis's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 2:08 | | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | ||
| 2:08 | | Payton Pritchard misses two point jump shot | ||
| 2:07 | | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | ||
| 2:07 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point tip layup | 33-23 |
| 2:00 | | Sam Hauser shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:00 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-24 |
| 2:00 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-25 |
| 1:50 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:48 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 1:46 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Payton Pritchard steals) | ||
| 1:30 | | Russell Westbrook blocks Jayson Tatum's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 1:30 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 1:25 | | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-25 |
| 1:25 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-25 |
| 1:13 | | Julian Strawther misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:10 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | Kristaps Porzingis turnover (bad pass) (Julian Strawther steals) | ||
| 0:53 | | Zeke Nnaji misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:51 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 0:48 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:44 | | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | ||
| 0:33 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | ||
| 0:30 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point bank jump shot | 37-25 |
| 0:07 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:04 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:42 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:39 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 11:36 | | Jamal Murray misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:33 | | Jamal Murray offensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | Julian Strawther misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | +2 | Luke Kornet makes two point cutting layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 39-25 |
| 10:51 | | +3 | Peyton Watson makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 39-28 |
| 10:34 | | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 10:34 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-28 |
| 10:34 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:30 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 10:21 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Kristaps Porzingis steals) | ||
| 10:17 | | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point running pullup jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 43-28 |
| 10:15 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:58 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:54 | | Peyton Watson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | Luke Kornet shooting foul (DeAndre Jordan draws the foul) | ||
| 9:49 | | DeAndre Jordan misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:49 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | +1 | DeAndre Jordan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-29 |
| 9:38 | | Payton Pritchard turnover (bad pass) (Peyton Watson steals) | ||
| 9:32 | | Jamal Murray misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:31 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:31 | | Neemias Queta personal foul (Loose ball) (DeAndre Jordan draws the foul) | ||
| 9:25 | | +2 | Julian Strawther makes two point driving floating jump shot (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 43-31 |
| 9:09 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:06 | | Julian Strawther defensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | +3 | Julian Strawther makes three point stepback jump shot | 43-34 |
| 8:56 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:40 | | Sam Hauser turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Murray steals) | ||
| 8:36 | | Julian Strawther misses two point running layup | ||
| 8:34 | | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point putback layup | 43-36 |
| 8:10 | | +2 | Neemias Queta makes two point layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 45-36 |
| 7:54 | | Julian Strawther turnover (lost ball) (Jrue Holiday steals) | ||
| 7:41 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 7:33 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point running layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 45-38 |
| 7:06 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:06 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 6:42 | | +3 | Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot | 45-41 |
| 6:22 | | Neemias Queta misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:21 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Christian Braun turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:58 | | +2 | Neemias Queta makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaylen Brown assists) | 47-41 |
| 5:44 | | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Al Horford steals) | ||
| 5:39 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk (Jaylen Brown assists) | 49-41 |
| 5:39 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:22 | | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 5:22 | | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-42 |
| 5:22 | | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-43 |
| 5:05 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:01 | | Al Horford offensive rebound | ||
| 4:53 | | +2 | Neemias Queta makes two point layup (Jaylen Brown assists) | 51-43 |