Nuggets face another uphill battle against Celtics

Although the Denver Nuggets lead the NBA in points per game (124.3), field goal percentage (50.8%) and 3-point field goal percentage (40%), they may have a hard time scoring when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Denver once again will play without center Nikola Jokic, who is nursing a knee injury, and Boston ranks second among NBA teams in points allowed per game (110.5). Jokic, who isn't expected back until February, leads Denver in scoring (29.6 ppg) and tops the league in both rebounding (12.2) and assists (11.0).

Boston had one of its best defensive halves of the season during the first 24 minutes of Monday's 115-101 victory over Chicago. The Celtics held the Bulls to 33 points in the first half, when Chicago shot 31.7% from the floor.

"For us to not shoot the ball well at all in that first half, but to play well defensively, it's a sign of a mature team, and so it was impressive," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. "The way they were able to compete (against Chicago), I just liked the competitive spirit throughout the entire game."

Monday was a rough shooting night for Jaylen Brown, who misfired on 18 of his 24 field goal attempts and was limited to 14 points. Brown is averaging a team-high 29.6 points per game.

Anfernee Simons helped fill the scoring void by tossing in 27 points, all of which came in the second half. Simons matched a franchise record by making eight 3-pointers in one half.

Simons has made at least four 3-pointers in four straight games after reaching that mark six times in Boston's first 31 contests.

"Guys come into the gym and get extra shots," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. "He comes in the gym and he gets extra shots, but he works on his defense as well. So it's a credit to him."

Boston, which has won four in a row and eight of its last nine, will be facing a Denver team that's coming off perhaps its most impressive victory of the season.

The Nuggets were without seven players in their rotation, including all five starters, but found a way to defeat Philadelphia 125-124 in overtime Monday.

It was Denver's second game in as many nights, and the Nuggets rested Jamal Murray, Tim Hardaway Jr., Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Like Jokic, Cam Johnson didn't play because of a knee injury, and backup center Jonas Valanciunas missed the game with a calf strain.

Jalen Pickett carried the offense for much of the game with his outside shooting. Pickett, a third-year guard, scored a career-high 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field. He had seven assists, five rebounds and a career-best seven 3-pointers.

"Jalen had a night he'll never forget," Denver coach David Adelman said. "He was just absolutely in control of this basketball game. With all those great players on that court, he was the guy (Monday).

"Just so many guys stepped in and did things for us. One of the most special wins I've been a part of. This is a bunch of guys finding a way to get it done with grit and effort and timely shot-making. And I think that's something that, when they're older, 20 years from now, they're probably gonna have a beer and talk about this game."