Veteran guard credits unselfishness and camaraderie for Denver's success amid injuries.
The Denver Nuggets came into Boston on Wednesday night without their best player and missing several key pieces, but that didn't stop them from walking away with a huge win on the road.
Denver knocked off the Boston Celtics 114-110 at TD Garden, finishing their grueling seven-game Eastern Conference road trip on a high note and improving to 25-12 on the season.
Despite playing without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, the Nuggets found a way to beat one of the best teams in the East through balanced scoring and unselfish play.
After the game, veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. spoke about what has made this Denver team so special despite all the adversity they've faced this year.
Hardaway Jr. Reveals Key to Denver's Success
"We were just doing our best to weather the storm," Hardaway Jr. said. "These guys in this locker room know what we have, know what it takes...we know we got a great supporting cast when the starters are out...next man up mentality."
Earlier in the year, Hardaway Jr. also pointed to the experience of this roster as a big reason why the team has stayed together through tough stretches and injuries to multiple starters.
"From a veteran standpoint, just having a lot of guys that have been in situations or been on teams where things haven't gone their way," he said. "I've been in a lot of locker rooms like that. So just being able to be out here and being able to have a great start to the season, which we could be better."
The 33-year-old guard came up big in the win over Boston, connecting on 4-of-8 shots from beyond the arc while helping space the floor for his teammates.
He's been a steady presence off the bench all season for Denver, averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range.
Murray and Watson Lead the Way
Jamal Murray put together one of the best games of his career against the Celtics, dishing out a career-high 17 assists to go along with 22 points.
The Canadian point guard is averaging 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game this season and has stepped up as the primary playmaker with Jokic out of the lineup.
Third-year forward Peyton Watson was the star of the night, though, scoring 30 points on a scorching 6-of-7 performance from beyond the arc.
Watson has been playing some of the best basketball of his young career lately and is averaging 12.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season.
The Nuggets put together a crucial 14-0 run in the fourth quarter that buried the Celtics and helped seal the road victory.
Denver's defense locked in during that stretch and held Boston scoreless for over four minutes while the offense found open looks from three.
Resilience Through Adversity
This win was just the latest example of how deep and connected this Nuggets roster really is.
With Jokic, Cam Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas all out due to injuries, Denver has had to rely on different players stepping up every night, and they keep finding ways to get it done.
Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon both recently returned from their own injury issues and provided solid minutes off the bench.
The Celtics dropped to 23-13 with the loss and now sit in third place in the Eastern Conference.
Denver heads home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night as they look to keep building momentum heading into the second half of the season.
If Hardaway Jr.'s words are any sign, this Nuggets team has the chemistry and the mindset to handle whatever comes their way.