Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets battles Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics for position under the boards during the first quarter at TD Garden on January 19, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images/AFP)
BOSTON — Jamal Murray scored 35 points, Nikola Jokic had with 34 and the Denver Nuggets held on to hand the Boston Celtics their first home loss of the season, 102-100 on Friday night.
Jokic added 12 rebounds and nine assists to help the defending NBA champions end the Celtics’ streak at 20 home victories. It was the first of two regular-season meetings between teams with sights on representing their respective conferences in the NBA Finals. They play again in Denver on March 7.
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Jayson Tatum had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds, but he missed a one-legged fadeaway off the rim. He finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Derrick White had 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 21.
Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP, feasted on a Celtics defense that opted not to double-team him for most of the game. He was efficient, connecting on 14 of 22 field attempts. It also didn’t stop him from finding his teammates, as he had nine of his assists in the first three quarters.
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76ERS 124, MAGIC 109
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 36 points, Tyrese Maxey had 32 and Philadelphia beat Orlando for its fourth straight victory.
Embiid had scored 30 or more points in a franchise-record 19 straights. The NBA scoring leader did not play in the fourth quarter. Maxey, who also had five assists, has scored 20 or more points in 11 straight games.
The 76ers won for the ninth straight time on the road with Embiid in the lineup. They are 2-6 away from home without him.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic.
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HORNETS 124, SPURS 120
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Charlotte beat San Antonio to end a six-game losing streak.
San Antonio rookie star Victor Wembanyama sat out for the sixth time this season. The No. 1 overall pick sprained an ankle Dec. 23 at Dallas, and the Spurs have been cautious with him. Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 25 points.
No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller added 24 points for Charlotte.