Celtics Lose To Nuggets, 123-107

BOSTON -- Emmanuel Mudiay erupted for 24 of his career high-matching 30 points in the first quarter and Wilson Chandler scored 15 of his 22 in the second, powering the Denver Nuggets to a 123-107 blowout of the undermanned Boston Celtics Sunday night.

Mudiay, who went 0-for-7 from the floor in Saturday night's 109-86 loss at Detroit, was 9-for-10 in the opening quarter, 3-for-6 from 3-point range. He came into the game 19-for-70 overall for the season, 3-for-15 from behind the arc.

Chandler didn't score in the first but took over for Mudiay in the second, as Denver (3-3) built up a 25-point lead in the first half and then held off any attempts for the Celtics to rally. Boston could get no closer than 15 in the second half.

Chandler left the game in the second half due to a left hamstring strain.

The Celtics, who have lost 57 straight games when trailing by at least 20 points (38 under Brad Stevens), left to a chorus of boos trailing by 25 points, and yielding 77, at the half.

Boston (3-3 with two straight losses) was missing starters Al Horford (concussion) and Jae Crowder (ankle), while Kelly Olynyk is still waiting to make his season debut after shoulder surgery.

Isaiah Thomas tried to keep the Celtics competitive, scoring season high-matching 30 points -- and he has at least 23 in each of the first six games of the season.

Saturday night in Detroit, the Nuggets fell behind 10-0 and trailed 29-12 at the end of the first quarter. They never caught up and coach Michael Malone said he was tired of poor starts and that he would change his starting lineup.

The only change turned out to be Gary Harris for Jamal Murray and this time it took Denver 4:10 to get past the 12 points scored in the first 12 minutes Saturday. Mudiay scored five early and then caught fire later in the quarter.

Danilo Gallinari scored 16 points, Harris posted 12 and Kenneth Faried came off the bench with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Avery Bradley scored 14 points and Marcus Smart 13 for the Celtics, who also got a career-high eight points off the bench from little-used Jordan Mickey.