Denver Nuggets vs Celtics Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs celtics match player stats from the January 8, 2026 meeting at TD Garden tell a much deeper story than the final score alone. Denver defeated Boston 114-110 in a tightly contested game that featured 26 lead changes and nine ties. The Nuggets finished with 39 made field goals, 20 three-pointers, 27 assists, only seven turnovers, and eight blocks, while the Celtics produced 43 made field goals, 53 rebounds, and 15 made three-pointers. The individual numbers were equally important, with Peyton Watson scoring 30 points for Denver, Jamal Murray delivering 22 points and 17 assists, Jaylen Brown leading Boston with 33 points, and Neemias Queta collecting 20 rebounds.

The matchup was particularly interesting because both teams were without their biggest stars. Denver played without Nikola Jokic, while Boston was without Jayson Tatum. That changed the normal offensive structure for both sides and created a different kind of game, one where secondary scorers and playmakers had a much larger role.

Denver eventually won because it executed better during the decisive stretch of the fourth quarter. Boston led 90-87 before the Nuggets produced a 14-0 run. Watson scored nine points during that surge, while Zeke Nnaji added eight. The Celtics recovered enough to make the closing minutes competitive, but Denver maintained control and finished with the four-point victory. The official NBA game record confirms the 114-110 result, the quarter-by-quarter scoring, the attendance of 19,156, and Murray’s 22-point, 17-assist performance. (NBA)

denver nuggets vs celtics match player stats: Game Overview

The game was played at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, in front of 19,156 spectators. Denver entered the matchup with a 25-12 record and a 15-7 mark on the road. Boston entered at 23-13 and had an 11-6 home record.

Those records already suggested a competitive matchup, but the circumstances made the game even more unusual. Neither team had its primary superstar available. Instead, the game became a test of depth, decision-making, shot creation, and execution.

Final Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Denver Nuggets	31	27	21	35	114
Boston Celtics	35	23	24	28	110

Boston started faster, scoring 35 points in the opening quarter compared with Denver’s 31. The Celtics also controlled the third quarter, 24-21.

The game changed in the fourth quarter.

Denver scored 35 points in the final period, five more than Boston, and that difference was enough to overcome the Celtics’ earlier advantage. The Nuggets’ fourth-quarter offense was the clearest statistical separator in the game.

Game Information

• Date: January 8, 2026
• Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
• Attendance: 19,156
• Final score: Denver 114, Boston 110
• Denver record: 25-12
• Boston record: 23-13
• Denver away record: 15-7
• Boston home record: 11-6
• Lead changes: 26
• Times tied: 9
• Game ID: 401810375
• Officials: Kevin Scott, Andy Nagy, Jonathan Sterling

The 26 lead changes are especially important. This was not a game where one team controlled the scoreboard from beginning to end. The result was shaped by a late-game swing.

Team Statistical Comparison

Looking only at points scored can hide why a basketball game developed the way it did. The team statistics provide a much clearer picture.

Statistic	Denver Nuggets	Boston Celtics
Field Goals	39-87	43-95
Field Goal Percentage	45%	45%
3-Pointers	20-44	15-38
3-Point Percentage	45%	39%
Free Throws	16-24	9-15
Rebounds	39	53
Assists	27	16
Turnovers	7	14
Steals	7	6
Blocks	8	6
Final Score	114	110

The most revealing numbers are not necessarily the field goal totals.

Both teams shot approximately 45% from the field, and Boston actually made four more field goals. Yet Denver made five more three-pointers and produced 11 more assists while committing seven fewer turnovers.

That combination is significant.

Denver’s Three-Point Advantage

Denver converted 20 of 44 three-point attempts, good for 45%.

Boston made 15 of 38, or 39%.

That gave Denver 15 more points from three-point range.

In a four-point game, that difference mattered enormously.

The Nuggets did not need to dominate overall field-goal efficiency. Instead, they created a stronger scoring profile through perimeter shooting and ball movement.

Boston’s Rebounding Advantage

Boston dominated the glass, 53 rebounds to Denver’s 39.

That is a 14-rebound advantage.

Neemias Queta was especially important, grabbing 20 rebounds by himself. His work on the boards helped Boston generate extra possessions and limited some of Denver’s second-chance opportunities.

Yet the Celtics could not convert their rebounding advantage into enough additional scoring.

This is one of the most useful lessons from the box score. A team can win a major statistical category and still lose when another group of possession-level advantages outweighs it.

Turnovers Created a Major Difference

Denver committed only seven turnovers.

Boston committed 14.

That means Boston gave the ball away twice as often.

The difference was not simply about avoiding mistakes. Turnovers can produce transition opportunities, prevent a team from getting into its half-court offense, and reduce the number of quality shots available.

Denver’s seven turnovers were particularly valuable in a close game.

Assists Show Denver’s Offensive Organization

Denver recorded 27 assists compared with Boston’s 16.

That 11-assist gap provides useful context for Murray’s 17 assists.

Murray was not simply scoring. He was responsible for creating opportunities for teammates throughout the game. His playmaking helped Denver maintain offensive structure despite playing without Jokic.

The official NBA recap highlighted Murray’s 22 points and 17 assists and noted that the 17-assist total was a career high. (NBA)

Peyton Watson’s 30-Point Performance

Peyton Watson was Denver’s leading scorer with 30 points.

His scoring output became especially important because Denver was missing Jokic. Without its normal offensive centerpiece, Denver needed another player to create and finish possessions.

Watson provided that scoring pressure.

The timing of his production was just as important as the final number. During Denver’s decisive fourth-quarter run, he scored nine points, helping the Nuggets turn a 90-87 deficit into a 101-90 lead.

That sequence changed the game.

Watson’s 30-point performance therefore needs to be viewed through two lenses:

1. Volume: He led Denver in scoring.
2. Timing: He produced critical points during the fourth-quarter swing.

A 30-point performance in a high-scoring game is valuable, but scoring 30 points while the game is still undecided carries an additional layer of importance.

Jamal Murray’s 22 Points and 17 Assists

Jamal Murray delivered one of the most unusual statistical performances of the night.

• He scored 22 points.
• He collected eight rebounds.
• He recorded 17 assists.

The assists were the headline.

Murray’s 17 assists represented a career high according to the official NBA game recap. The NBA also noted that he became the first player since Luka Doncic in 2024 to record consecutive games with at least 20 points and 15 assists. (NBA)

His performance was particularly significant because Jokic was unavailable.

Denver normally relies heavily on Jokic’s ability to score, rebound, facilitate, and organize the offense. Without him, Murray had to take on a larger portion of the creation burden.

He responded by combining scoring with elite playmaking.

Why Murray’s Assist Total Matters

The 17 assists become even more impressive when placed beside Denver’s 27 total assists.

Murray accounted for a substantial share of the team’s assisted baskets.

That indicates how central he was to the offensive process.

Instead of trying to replace Jokic by simply taking more shots, Murray helped distribute the workload. His approach allowed Watson and other Denver players to remain involved.

This is a major tactical takeaway from the game.

When a team loses a primary offensive creator, replacing the missing production does not always mean replacing the missing shot attempts. It can mean redistributing decision-making responsibilities.

Murray did exactly that.

Jaylen Brown Leads Boston With 33 Points

Jaylen Brown was Boston’s leading scorer with 33 points.

His scoring output kept the Celtics competitive throughout the game, particularly when Denver began gaining momentum late.

Brown’s 33 points also show that Boston did receive significant offensive production from one of its leading perimeter players despite Tatum’s absence.

The challenge was that Boston did not receive enough complementary playmaking to match Denver’s offensive balance.

Brown finished with four assists, tying Derrick White for Boston’s team-high in assists.

That contrast is important.

Murray produced 17 assists by himself, while Boston’s two leading assist totals were four apiece.

This does not mean Boston’s offense was ineffective. The Celtics scored 110 points and shot 45% from the field. Instead, it illustrates how differently the two teams generated offense in this particular game.

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard Add 17 Points Each

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard each scored 17 points for Boston.

Their contributions helped prevent the Celtics’ offense from becoming overly dependent on Brown.

White also contributed four assists, matching Brown for the team lead.

Pritchard’s 17 points gave Boston another reliable scoring option, but Denver’s superior three-point percentage and assist total ultimately gave the Nuggets a stronger offensive balance.

The Celtics had 43 made field goals compared with Denver’s 39, yet still lost by four.

That is a useful reminder that the number of field goals made does not tell the entire story.

The distribution of those baskets matters.

Neemias Queta’s 20 Rebounds

Neemias Queta produced one of Boston’s strongest statistical performances by grabbing 20 rebounds.

That was a career-high total according to the official NBA recap. (NBA)

Twenty rebounds is a substantial contribution in any NBA game.

Queta’s rebounding helped Boston establish a physical advantage and contributed to the Celtics’ overall 53-39 edge on the boards.

However, Boston’s rebounding advantage did not translate into enough additional scoring to overcome Denver’s perimeter shooting and ball security.

This is where box-score analysis becomes more useful than simply listing leaders.

Queta won the rebounding battle.

Denver won the game.

Both statements can be true because different statistical categories influence different parts of a possession.

denver nuggets vs celtics match player stats and Shooting Efficiency

Shooting efficiency was one of the clearest areas where the teams differed.

Both teams finished at approximately 45% from the field, but their three-point shooting was not equal.

Denver:

• 39-87 overall
• 45% from the field
• 20-44 from three
• 45% from three
• 16-24 from the free-throw line

Boston:

• 43-95 overall
• 45% from the field
• 15-38 from three
• 39% from three
• 9-15 from the free-throw line

Denver’s 20 made threes were five more than Boston’s total.

That alone accounts for a meaningful scoring difference.

The Nuggets also made seven more free throws.

While free-throw volume was not enormous for either team, Denver converted 16 attempts compared with Boston’s nine.

When a game is decided by four points, differences of this size become highly relevant.

Possession Quality: The Hidden Story

One of the strongest ways to understand this game is to examine possession quality.

Denver finished with:

• 7 turnovers
• 27 assists
• 20 made threes
• 39 rebounds
• 7 steals
• 8 blocks

Boston finished with:

• 14 turnovers
• 16 assists
• 15 made threes
• 53 rebounds
• 6 steals
• 6 blocks

Boston had more rebounds.

Denver had fewer turnovers.

Boston made more total field goals.

Denver made more three-pointers.

Denver also had a much higher assist total.

The result was an offensive profile that favored Denver despite Boston’s strong work on the glass.

Why Seven Turnovers Matter

Seven turnovers over a full game represents strong ball security.

The Celtics’ 14 turnovers were twice as many.

If Denver converted even a portion of those additional possessions into points, the impact could become significant in a four-point game.

Turnovers are particularly damaging because they can eliminate an entire offensive possession without a shot attempt.

Why 27 Assists Matter

Denver’s 27 assists suggest that its offense was highly connected.

The team did not rely entirely on individual isolation scoring.

Murray’s 17 assists were the centerpiece, but the team total shows that multiple players were involved in the passing structure.

That becomes even more important when a team’s primary superstar is unavailable.

Fourth-Quarter Breakdown

The fourth quarter was the decisive period.

Denver entered the final period trailing 90-87.

The Nuggets then scored 14 consecutive points.

That run turned a three-point deficit into an 11-point advantage.

Denver eventually led 107-95 before Boston mounted a late push.

The Celtics cut the margin to three points in the final seconds, but Denver had created enough separation earlier in the quarter to protect the victory.

The fourth-quarter scoring was:

• Denver: 35
• Boston: 28

That seven-point difference was almost twice the final margin of victory.

This is why looking only at the final score can be misleading. The game was not decided by a single basket. It was shaped by Denver’s ability to create separation during the middle portion of the fourth quarter and then withstand Boston’s late response.

The 14-0 Run That Changed the Game

The 14-0 run deserves special attention.

Before the run, Boston had control at 90-87.

After the run, Denver led 101-90.

That is an 11-point swing.

Watson was directly involved in the scoring surge, producing nine points. Nnaji added eight points during the fourth quarter.

The run demonstrates how quickly NBA games can change when a team combines defensive stops with efficient offensive possessions.

Denver did not need to dominate the entire night.

It needed one sustained stretch of superior execution.

That stretch arrived at exactly the right time.

Missing Stars Changed the Statistical Context

The box score should not be interpreted as if both teams had their usual rosters.

Denver was without Nikola Jokic.

Boston was without Jayson Tatum.

That matters because both players normally influence multiple statistical categories.

Jokic’s absence changes Denver’s scoring creation, rebounding, passing, and half-court organization.

Tatum’s absence changes Boston’s scoring load, perimeter creation, and offensive spacing.

The official Denver injury report before the game listed Jokic as out with a left knee injury and Tatum as out with a right Achilles repair. (NBA)

As a result, the performances of Watson, Murray, Brown, White, Pritchard, and Queta deserve additional context.

They were not simply producing normal supporting numbers.

They were operating within altered offensive roles.

What the Player Stats Reveal About Denver

The statistical profile suggests several things about Denver’s performance.

1. Denver Adapted Without Jokic

Murray’s 17 assists were the clearest evidence.

Rather than replacing Jokic’s scoring with one player taking an extreme number of shots, Denver distributed offensive responsibility.

Watson led the team with 30 points.

Murray added 22.

That gave Denver two major scoring contributors while maintaining a strong passing structure.

2. Denver Protected the Basketball

Seven turnovers is one of the strongest team numbers in the box score.

Against Boston, maintaining possession was particularly valuable because the Celtics were already dominating the rebounding battle.

Denver could not afford to give Boston even more opportunities through careless passes or offensive mistakes.

3. Denver Won the Perimeter Battle

The Nuggets made 20 threes.

Boston made 15.

Denver also shot 45% from three compared with Boston’s 39%.

That perimeter efficiency offset Boston’s 14-rebound advantage.

What the Player Stats Reveal About Boston

Boston’s numbers tell a different story.

1. Boston Controlled the Glass

The 53-39 rebounding advantage was substantial.

Queta’s 20 rebounds were the centerpiece of that advantage.

Boston’s physical work gave the Celtics additional opportunities and limited Denver’s ability to generate second chances.

2. Boston Made More Field Goals

The Celtics made 43 field goals.

Denver made 39.

Yet Boston still scored fewer points.

This happened because Denver generated more scoring from three-point range and free throws.

3. Boston Needed More Playmaking

Boston finished with 16 assists.

Denver finished with 27.

That 11-assist difference is one of the most important numbers in the matchup.

Brown and White each recorded four assists, but no Celtics player approached Murray’s 17-assist performance.

Comparing the Leading Scorers

The primary scoring leaders were:

Player	Team	Points
Peyton Watson	Denver	30
Jaylen Brown	Boston	33
Jamal Murray	Denver	22
Derrick White	Boston	17
Payton Pritchard	Boston	17

Brown had the highest individual scoring total at 33.

Watson was close behind with 30.

The difference is that Murray’s offensive value was spread across both scoring and playmaking. His 22 points came alongside 17 assists and eight rebounds.

That made his overall contribution unusually broad.

Denver’s Offensive Balance

Denver’s offensive balance can be summarized through three numbers:

30 points from Watson.

22 points from Murray.

27 team assists.

The combination matters.

Watson supplied scoring pressure.

Murray supplied creation.

The rest of the roster benefited from that structure.

Denver’s 20 made three-pointers also meant that its scoring was not concentrated exclusively around the rim.

The result was an offense capable of surviving the absence of its normal centerpiece.

Boston’s Offensive Balance

Boston’s scoring was led by Brown’s 33 points.

White and Pritchard each added 17.

That gave Boston 67 points from three primary contributors.

The remaining 43 points came from the rest of the roster.

The distribution was respectable, but Boston’s 16 total assists indicate that the offense was less pass-heavy than Denver’s.

That difference became more important late in the game.

The Importance of Free Throws

Denver went 16-for-24 from the free-throw line.

Boston went 9-for-15.

Neither team was exceptionally efficient from the stripe.

Denver shot 67%.

Boston shot 60%.

The seven made free throws in Denver’s favor represent another small but meaningful scoring edge.

In a game decided by four points, those details matter.

It is also worth noting that the Nuggets did not need perfect free-throw shooting to win. Their larger advantage came from three-point production and ball movement.

Defensive Production

Denver recorded eight blocks and seven steals.

Boston recorded six blocks and six steals.

The Nuggets therefore held modest advantages in both categories.

The block difference is particularly notable considering Boston’s 53 rebounds.

Denver was not winning the physical battle across every category, but its defensive activity helped create opportunities to get out in transition and disrupt possessions.

The Celtics’ six steals and six blocks still show active defense, but the Nuggets’ overall combination of defensive events and ball security was stronger.

The Statistical Meaning of the Four-Point Margin

A 114-110 final score means the teams were separated by only four points.

Yet the statistical differences were much larger in several categories.

Denver had:

• 5 more made three-pointers
• 7 more made free throws
• 11 more assists
• 7 fewer turnovers
• 2 more steals
• 2 more blocks

Boston had:

• 4 more made field goals
• 14 more rebounds

That contrast is fascinating.

Boston won the rebounding battle by a large margin and made more field goals.

Denver still won.

The explanation lies in the value of each possession and the points generated from those possessions.

A Practical Way to Read This Box Score

If you are analyzing an NBA game for fantasy basketball, player evaluation, team performance, or matchup research, this game provides a useful framework.

Do not stop with points.

Instead, check five categories:

Scoring

Who produced points, and when did those points arrive?

Watson’s 30 and Brown’s 33 are obvious examples, but the fourth-quarter timing makes Watson’s production especially relevant.

Playmaking

Who created shots for teammates?

Murray’s 17 assists dramatically changed Denver’s offensive structure.

Possession Control

Which team protected the basketball?

Denver committed seven turnovers.

Boston committed 14.

Shot Profile

How did each team score?

Denver made 20 three-pointers.

Boston made 15.

Rebounding

Which team created additional opportunities?

Boston won this category, 53-39.

Looking at all five categories produces a much more complete understanding than looking at scoring alone.

denver nuggets vs celtics match player stats: Key Takeaways

The most important statistical lessons from this matchup are straightforward.

Jamal Murray was the primary creator

His 22 points were important, but his 17 assists were arguably the most influential individual statistic.

Peyton Watson delivered the biggest scoring performance for Denver

His 30 points gave Denver the scoring punch it needed without Jokic.

Jaylen Brown kept Boston in the game

His 33 points made him Boston’s leading scorer and one of the primary reasons the Celtics remained competitive.

Neemias Queta dominated the boards

His 20 rebounds were a major reason Boston finished with a 53-39 team rebounding advantage.

Denver won the three-point battle

The Nuggets made 20 threes compared with Boston’s 15.

Denver protected the ball

Seven turnovers compared with Boston’s 14 was another major difference.

Denver’s fourth quarter decided the outcome

The Nuggets scored 35 fourth-quarter points and produced a 14-0 run after trailing 90-87.

What This Game Says About Team Construction

The matchup also provides an interesting lesson about roster depth.

A team cannot assume its stars will be available every night.

Denver entered the game without Jokic and still generated 114 points.

Boston played without Tatum and still scored 110.

The difference came from how the supporting players responded.

Denver’s supporting cast created a more efficient offensive structure, while Boston leaned more heavily on Brown for scoring.

This does not mean one approach is universally better. It simply shows how different roster structures respond when a primary star is unavailable.

For Denver, Murray’s ability to create for others became critical.

For Boston, Brown’s scoring became a larger part of the offensive burden.

Why the Matchup Was So Competitive

The 26 lead changes and nine ties demonstrate how closely the teams matched each other for most of the night.

Boston had the stronger start.

Denver responded in the second quarter.

Boston regained control in the third.

Denver then took over the decisive stretch of the fourth.

That pattern is important because it shows that the final result was not determined by one team being dominant for 48 minutes.

Instead, it came down to which team executed better during the game’s most important stretch.

Denver did.

Historical Context of the Meeting

At this point in the season, Denver led the season series 1-0.

The teams had already established a history of competitive games, and this meeting added another close result to the matchup.

The official NBA game database lists the January 7, 2026 meeting as a 114-110 Denver victory and also records previous meetings between the franchises. (NBA)

For readers tracking head-to-head results, the most useful approach is to separate historical matchup records from the specific performance of this game.

Previous meetings can provide context, but the player statistics from this matchup should be evaluated on their own terms because the personnel and availability were different.

How to Interpret the Numbers for Player Evaluation

Player evaluation should account for role.

Murray’s 22 points might look less impressive than Brown’s 33 if scoring is the only metric being considered.

That would miss the central feature of Murray’s performance.

He also recorded 17 assists and eight rebounds.

Similarly, Queta’s 20 rebounds represent a major contribution, even though his total scoring output was not among Boston’s leaders.

Watson’s 30 points were valuable because Denver needed scoring after losing its usual offensive centerpiece.

This is why raw points alone are insufficient for evaluating individual performances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Denver Nuggets in scoring against Boston?

Peyton Watson led Denver with 30 points.

Who led the Boston Celtics in scoring?

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points.

How many assists did Jamal Murray have?

Jamal Murray recorded 17 assists, along with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Who had the most rebounds in the game?

Boston’s Neemias Queta led the game with 20 rebounds.

What was the final score between Denver and Boston?

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Boston Celtics 114-110.

Which team made more three-pointers?

Denver made 20 three-pointers, while Boston made 15.

Conclusion

The January 2026 meeting between Denver and Boston was decided by a combination of perimeter shooting, ball security, playmaking, and fourth-quarter execution.

Boston had several statistical advantages. The Celtics made more total field goals and dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with 53 boards compared with Denver’s 39. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 33 points, while Neemias Queta produced 20 rebounds.

Denver’s advantages were more closely connected to efficient possession management. The Nuggets made 20 three-pointers, recorded 27 assists, committed only seven turnovers, and produced eight blocks. Peyton Watson supplied 30 points, while Jamal Murray combined 22 points with a career-high 17 assists and eight rebounds.

The decisive sequence came in the fourth quarter. Denver trailed 90-87 before producing a 14-0 run, eventually taking a 101-90 lead. Boston continued to fight and reduced the margin late, but Denver’s earlier fourth-quarter separation proved enough.

The overall statistical picture shows why a four-point game can contain such large differences across individual categories. Boston controlled the glass, while Denver controlled the perimeter and the turnover battle. Murray’s playmaking helped organize an offense missing Jokic, while Watson provided the scoring needed to finish the comeback.

For readers studying the denver nuggets vs celtics match player stats, the central lesson is that the box score becomes much more informative when individual numbers are connected to game context. Points, assists, rebounds, shooting efficiency, turnovers, and fourth-quarter production each explain a different part of the final result.