Jamal Murray has had to adjust to playing without Nikola Jokic, and life isn't as easy as it is with the MVP on the floor.

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DENVER — The road did the Celtics good to begin 2025, and they return home after a successful swing against four Western Conference teams with winning records, one bad quarter away from an undefeated trip.

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.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, gets trapped with the ball by Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and center Al Horford, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David ...

After squandering a 15-point first half lead, the Celtics and Nuggets played a nip and tuck game for most of the second half until Boston took command midway through the fourth quarter. With Jamal Murray on the bench, the Celtics erupted with a 15-0 run, breaking the game open in the final five minutes of the win.

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.

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

Jan 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) guards in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Tonight was to be a marquee matchup between two title contenders but unfortunately for the Denver Nuggets they were at a major disadvantage from the jump with Nikola Jokic being ruled out due to illness.

Jayson Tatum registered 29 points, while Kristaps Porzingis added 25 as the Boston Celtics held off the struggling Denver Nuggets 118-106 with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sitting out with illness.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Kyrie Irving scored 25 points as the Dallas Mavericks brought the high-flying Oklahoma City Thunder down to earth with a