Nuggets hand Celtics 1st home loss of season

BOSTON – Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 69 points as the Denver Nuggets ended Boston’s unbeaten home start to the season with a thrilling 102-100 victory on Friday.

A heavyweight showdown between the reigning NBA champions and a league-leading Celtics side lived up to the billing in a gripping battle at Boston’s TD Garden.

Denver’s victory snapped Boston’s 20-game unbeaten run at home this season, the Nuggets laying down a psychological marker in what could well turn out to be a possible NBA Finals preview.

Both two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic and Murray were in scintillating form throughout.

Jokic finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists while Murray led the Nuggets scoring with 35 points from 15-of-21 shooting.

“During the season you’ve got to find ways of motivating yourself and your team, and them not having a loss at home really motivated us,” Murray said afterwards.

“We just wanted to come here and bring the right energy regardless. It was good to get a dub (win) today,” added Murray, who also had eight rebounds and five assists.