Jayson Tatum and the Celtics closed a tough road trip with a 118-106 victory over the Nuggets (sans Nikola Jokic) on Tuesday.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 25 in a 118-106 victory vs. the Nuggets that wrapped up a 3-1 road trip.

Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and the Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.

Their spirit was willing but the depleted Nuggets couldn’t quite hang with the defending NBA champions Celtics Tuesday night at Ball Arena. Playing without center Nikola Jokic, who was scratched before the game with a non-COVID illness,

DENVER — Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic was sidelined for Denver’s clash with Jayson Tatum and the Celtics on Tuesday night because of an illness. The Nuggets center went from probable to questionable to out over the course of the day. He was seen leaving the arena a little more than an hour before tipoff.

Jayson Tatum had 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Boston Celtics beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night.