The Boston Celtics (33-24) steamrolled the Denver Nuggets (22-34) Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Center, 121-101.
The Nuggets led or were tied through the games' first four minutes, but Boston closed the first quarter with a 26-8 run and never looked back. They carried a 15-point lead into halftime and never led by fewer than 10 points in the second half.
The Celtics were led by their starting back court, as Isaiah Thomas dropped 22 points (7-16 FG, 3-7 3PT) and 12 assists and Avery Bradley added 20 points on 8-15 shooting (3-8 3PT). Jared Sullinger added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics dominated on the glass. They rebounded 15 of their 50 misses (30 percent) and allowed Denver to grab just six offensive rebounds on 39 missed shots (15.3 percent).
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored 23 points (10-15 FG) to lead all scorers and added 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Emmanuel Mudiay scored an efficient 18 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 6-6 FT) and Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points (5-11 FG, 7-10 FT). The Nuggets couldn't find their deep shot, however, as they went just 6-21 (28.6 percent) from downtown and couldn't keep up with the Celtics' churning offense.
The Celtics continue their Western Conference road trip Monday against the Timberwolves. The Nuggets remain home for a matchup Tuesday against the Kings.
