The Boston Celtics may be the hottest team in the NBA, but on Wednesday, they were no match for the centerless Denver Nuggets, who pulled a big upset to win 114-110. It ends Denver’s season-long seven-game road trip, which turned hellish with the injuries to Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas, on a high note.
Jamal Murray, who said earlier Wednesday he wants to be an MVP, played like one — specifically Jokic. Murray had set his career high on Sunday with 16 assists but sat during Monday’s insane upset win. The Blue Arrow bested himself, tossing 17 assists along with 22 points and eight rebounds.
“Whatever is the right play, he’s been making it,” David Adelman said after the game.
Peyton Watson also set a career mark by knocking down six triples as he went over 20 points for the fifth straight game. His 30 points were a team best and his second career 30-ball.
“He’s an amazing talent, you see it in games like this with Nikola out,” Watson said of Murray. “The attention is all on him, and he finds a way to produce and create for everyone. We couldn’t ask for a better point guard.”
And the combination of Zeke Nnaji, Aaron Gordon and Tim Hardaway Jr. played big parts coming off the bench.
While more Nuggets were healthy for the start of this game than in Philly, more was asked of players unexpectedly in Boston. Spencer Jones left the game with a foot injury. Though he was on the injury report earlier in the day with an illness, the team said the sickness was pretty bad. The second-year pro has been a revelation for the Nuggets on a two-way contract, turning into one of the team’s best defenders and getting 22 starts.
Jones’ absence in the second half meant more was put on Christian Braun and Gordon, who were just in their second games back from monthlong injuries. Braun struggled at times, but Gordon keeps making a positive impact whenever he gets on the floor. Both players on minutes restrictions. It still put a lot on Nnaji’s plate, who is getting time because of Jokic’s injury, and the one to Valanciunas, too. Zeke both scored 12 points and got some huge stops to end the game.
ZEKE NNAJI WITH AUTHORITY pic.twitter.com/FXDsqDICHv
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 8, 2026
His defense was part of the Nuggets’ rallying to force 14 turnovers on Boston in the last three quarters, forcing seven on MVP hopeful and the game’s leading scorer, Jaylen Brown. Brown and his 33 points were on the bench when the Celtics made one last push to cut a late double-digit lead to one possession with just a few seconds left.
The good thing about road trips is that even when they take a lot out of you, if your team is made of the right stuff, it can bring them closer together. With the worst injury suffered by Jokic in his career, this trip could have been catastrophic for the Nuggets. They’ve found a way to go 3-2 without their MVP and seemingly the team feels deeper and stronger for when the big fella returns.
“I think this was an incredible road trip. I think going 3-4 with all the things that happened, losing both your centers, I would say this road trip was very, very successful,” Adelman said. “The group, throughout the whole trip, their mentality has been so good… Everybody is really bought in.”
What’s next for the Nuggets?
The Nuggets are finally back home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. They came back for one of their best wins of the season in Georgia last month. The Hawks will be in their first game of the post-Trae Young era, sending their star to Washington during Wednesday’s action.
Denver has held onto the fourth seed in the West through all of this, though they’re tied for second-most wins in the conference behind OKC. Meaning the Nuggets are just a half-game back of second place.
