Jaylen Brown (left) scored a team-high 33 points for the Celtics in a 114-110 loss to the Nuggets Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown (left) scored a team-high 33 points for the Celtics in a 114-110 loss to the Nuggets Wednesday night at TD Garden.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The Celtics and Nuggets entered Wednesday’s game with two of the top offenses in NBA history. And at the start of this matchup, it was easy to see why, even with Denver’s attack diluted by the absence of superstar center Nikola Jokic’s due to a a knee injury.
But in the end, the Nuggets found a way with their defense, stymying the Celtics during a key 14-0 fourth-quarter run to emerge with a 114-110 win that snapped Boston’s four-game streak.
Jaylen Brown encountered heavy defensive pressure on a first-quarter drive to the basket against the Nuggets.
Jaylen Brown encountered heavy defensive pressure on a first-quarter drive to the basket against the Nuggets.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Jaylen Brown had 33 points to lead the Celtics, but he also committed a game-high seven turnovers, with three coming during the fateful fourth quarter. Center Neemias Queta gobbled up a career-high 20 rebounds.
Peyton Watson had 30 points to lead the Nuggets, who hit 20 of 45 3-pointers.
The Celtics’ work on the offensive glass gave them chances early in the fourth, with Queta leading the way. And an Anfernee Simons basket after an offensive rebound gave the Celtics a 90-87 lead with 8:12 left. Boston had 27 second-chance points in the game.
Rim runnin 🔨 pic.twitter.com/JLLtUQt0zT
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 8, 2026
But then a costly scoring drought arrived. Jamal Murray (22 points) hit a jumper and found Christian Braun for a 3-pointer, and Zeke Nnaji blocked a Derrick White 3-pointer to ignite a fast-break that ended with a Watson layup.
The Celtics called timeout, but it didn’t help. Nnaji threw down a dunk, Brown was called for an offensive foul and two Nnaji free throws capped the 14-0 run that gave the Nuggets a 101-90 lead, the first double-digit advantage for either team.
Nnaji all but put the exclamation point on his team’s win by smothering Brown’s attempt inside, leading to a Watson 3-pointer at the other end.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla removed his stars with the Nuggets leading, 109-98, with 1:12 left, but four missed free throws by Watson created a small opening, and the Celtics pulled within 113-110 with three Payton Pritchard free throws with 6.5 seconds to play. But the comeback ended there.
The offensive powers of both teams were apparent at the start, with crisp, accurate shot-making. The Nuggets opened the game by making 5 of 6 3-pointers. The Celtics were slightly efficient but made up for their rare misses by continuing to stress opposing defenses with second-chance opportunities.
After the Nuggets took an early 17-11 lead, the Celtics pushed back and tied the score at 19 with a Brown 3-pointer.
The Celtics spent parts of the night promoting Brown’s All-Star candidacy, and he appeared determined to show the national television audience what he has been up to over the past few months. Brown took 11 shots in the game’s first nine minutes.
AHHHHH 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/lIkxhxfxyH
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 8, 2026
With Brown on the bench to end the quarter, White seized control. Over the final 76 seconds he converted a runner, drained a 3-pointer, and drove the right baseline for a rare dunk that helped the Celtics take a 35-31 lead after one quarter.
White’s surge continued with a 3-pointer to start the second.
The Celtics led, 41-34, when the Nuggets crafted a methodical 10-0 run that stretched over nearly four minutes. Peyton Watson was at the center of the Nuggets’ first-half burst. The forward made his first six shots, including four 3-pointers.
But the Celtics soon answered with a 9-0 run that included a pair of baskets by Brown, who had 19 first-half points. Trailing by 3, Murray buried a 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left that tied it, 58-58, at halftime.
Both teams had a sloppy start to the third quarter, with the Nuggets unable to make a layup and the Celtics unable to hang onto the ball.
But the Celtics emerged from their icy stretch first. Luka Garza, who replaced Queta just a few minutes into the period, hit a 3-pointer and took a charge in succession before a Brown basket gave the Celtics a 72-63 lead.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, went 6 minutes, 22 seconds without a point until Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr. hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
But after the Nuggets regained the lead, Anfernee Simons connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to give the Celtics an 82-79 lead after three quarters.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.