Boston @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 18, 2019 ) Denver 114, Boston 105

The Denver Nuggets look to record their eighth victory in the past nine games when they host the Boston Celtics on Friday. Denver held the Houston Rockets to a season-low point total in Wednesday's 105-95 victory and is 7-0 when holding opponents under 100 points.

The Nuggets figured out how to slow down James Harden by holding him to 27 points after he tallied at least 36 in each of the previous eight games. Star center Nikola Jokic collected 27 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season but the big man has gone three games without a steal and four without a blocked shot. The Celtics dropped a 107-104 overtime decision to the host Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for their second loss in three games following a 10-game winning streak. "We believe, truly, that we can compete with anybody in this league," point guard Marcus Smart said afterward. "But it's going to take every possession. We can't take it for granted. We got to take every possession like it's our last possession and we got to really protect the ball."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (11-3): Boston guard Kemba Walker had just 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting against the Clippers and his last-second 3-point attempt was easily swatted away by Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. "It was definitely a rough shooting night for me," Walker said. "I just thought I made a lot of bad decisions tonight. But I just got to be better. ... As an individual, I definitely would have loved to be better for my teammates." Standout forward Jayson Tatum scored a season-best 30 points in a game in which the Celtics missed their first 16 3-point attempts and finished 12-of-45.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (10-3): Point guard Jamal Murray had nine assists and a career-best six steals against Houston but he tallied just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting. The 22-year-old is currently battling consistency issues as he recorded a season-best 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday after having just four points on 1-of-11 shooting in the previous game against the Brooklyn Nets. Swingman Will Barton scored 15 points against Houston and has been in double digits nine times this season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets won both of last season's meetings with Murray scoring a career-best 48 points in the meeting in Denver.

2. Boston PF-C Daniel Theis is averaging 11.7 rebounds over the last three games, collecting at least 10 in each.

3. Denver scored 100 or more points in 12 of its 13 games.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 102, Celtics 97