BOSTON -- Emmanuel Mudiay learned quickly that in the NBA, shooters often benefit from a short memory.Coming off a rough game, Mudiay scored 24 of his season-high 30 points in the opening quarter Sunday night while helping the Denver Nuggets to a big first half on their way to a 123-107 victory over the injury-depleted Boston Celtics.One thing about this league that Ive learned from last year is theres always another game, said Mudiay, in his second season. You cant think about the last one. You just grow and move on from it. Thats the main thing I was thinking about.Mudiay, who went 0 for 7 from the floor Saturday night in Denvers double-digit loss at Detroit, shot 9 of 10 in the first quarter and had a season high already as he outscored the Celtics.The Nuggets led 42-23 after one.Wilson Chandler added 22 points before leaving with a left hamstring injury. Danilo Gallinari scored 16, and Gary Harris and Jamal Murray each had 12 for the Nuggets, who lost 16 of the previous 18 meetings in Boston.Isaiah Thomas led Boston, tying his season high with 30 points. Avery Bradley had 14.These signs arent good. Were not giving our all on the defensive end, Thomas said. We can have five starters out (but) you can definitely, its a mindset thing on that end, and weve got to do a better job on that.The Celtics were missing starters Jae Crowder (sprained left ankle) and Al Horford (concussion protocol), a high-priced free agent acquisition.Denver pushed its lead to 66-41 midway into the second and led 77-52 at halftime.Boston left the floor to a loud chorus of boos.The Celtics made a brief spurt in the third, closing to 84-69, but the Nuggets scored 14 of the next 19 points en route to a 103-83 edge after three.There was a smattering of boos again when the game ended.TIP-INSNuggets: Denver scored just 86 points in its loss at Detroit. ... G Will Barton missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle.Celtics: F Kelly Olynyk was also out and hasnt played this season while rehabbing his right shoulder. He was the only player on the floor minutes before the teams came out for pregame warmups, doing extensive shooting with a few ball boys in front of Bostons bench. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Olynyk is still on pace for mid-November.FAST STARTThe Nuggets emphasized getting off to a quick start after falling behind by 17 after one quarter against Detroit. They thought it was a bad pattern they had been getting into so far this season.We had to not lose the first quarter. We were losing the first quarter too much, Mudiay said. I just felt like we had to come out and do something about it. We cant be pointing fingers.THEY WERENT LISTENINGBefore the game, Stevens addressed his teams struggles on defense.Im not as concerned (with offense), he said. Again, my focus is on the defensive end of the floor with our team right now.Then the Celtics went out and allowed the Nuggets to score 77 points in the first half while shooting 64.4 percent, with a number of baskets coming off drives down the lane.UP NEXTNuggets: Close a five-game road swing at Memphis on Tuesday. They play at home for the first time this month -- and only the second time all season -- on Thursday against Golden State.Celtics: At Washington on Wednesday in their first matchup with the Wizards. Boston won all four meetings last season. Saints Jerseys China . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. New Orleans Saints Gear .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. New Orleans Saints Shirts . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. New Orleans Saints Store . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Kenta Maeda will start for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday against the Cubs Jon Lester, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts?confirmed.Roberts reiterated after Wednesdays?10-2 Dodgers loss that he wont start ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest, putting the three-time Cy Young Award winner in line for Game 6 on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Kershaw threw a bullpen session earlier Wednesday.[Thursday] is not an elimination game or a deciding game, Roberts said after the Cubs evened the series at two games apiece.The first-year skipper had previously said it was not out of the question that Kershaw could be asked to pitch in Game 5, on three days of rest, under certain circumstances.Maeda, 28, said he hasnt been happy with the way he has pitched in two games this postseason -- the rookie right-hander has allowed seven earned runs in a combined seven innings -- but believes that will change on Thursday.ddddddddddddRoberts said he has all the confidence in the world in Maeda.There will be a familiar face in the crowd when Maeda and the Dodgers attempt to retake the lead in the best-of-seven series. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully is set to attend Thursdays game, his first time back at Dodger Stadium since calling his last home game on Sept. 25. The 88-year-old ended his 67-year career this month with the Dodgers regular-season finale at San Francisco.The Associated Press contributed to this report.? ' ' '