BOSTON -- Kris Humphries didnt play 20 minutes in a game for the whole month of November. http://www.baseballindiansauthentic.com/joe-carter-indians-jersey/ . Five times this season he never got off the bench at all. He hadnt scored in double digits in the first 20 games before contributing 18 to the Boston Celtics 106-98 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. And one more thing: He never complained. "When were winning and stuff, I dont like to focus on me," Humphries said after the Celtics ran off the first 14 points to win their second straight game and maintain their awkward hold on the Atlantic Division lead. "Were at the top of the division. Thats all thats important." Jordan Crawford had 22 points and eight assists and Avery Bradley scored 18 for Boston, which has a 9-12 record that would rank no better than fifth in any division in the Western Conference. Humphries scored eight points in the last 4 1/2 minutes of the third quarter, when Boston turned back a Denver run that cut the deficit to three points. "Our starters played fantastic at the start of the game and got us out to a huge lead. In the second half it was our bench that got us back out to the lead," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "Kris was a big part of that." A nine-year veteran who came to Boston in the trade that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets, Humphries has struggled to find a role on a young, rebuilding team. He has gotten more time since an ankle injury to Kelly Olynyk has kept the first-round draft pick out since Nov. 23. "Hes done a good job for us," Stevens said. "I think that speaks to his professionalism, too, because this hasnt always been easy for him. But hes been a pro about everything." Ty Lawson scored 20 points before leaving late in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury, and J.J. Hickson had 17 for Denver. The Nuggets had won seven straight games but have now lost two in a row to Cleveland and Boston, two Eastern Conference teams that were at or below a .400 winning percentage. "Second consecutive game in a row that we basically got beat up, got hit first," Denver coach Brian Shaw said. "We told our team before the game started tonight that regardless of their record, theyre going to come out and fight to stay in first place. And they did that." The Celtics opened the game with a 14-0 run, getting six of Bradleys 13 first-quarter points in the first 4 minutes, before Hickson made one of two free throws with 7:20 left for Denvers first point. Boston expanded the lead to 24 by scoring 12 of the last 13 points in the quarter, including a 30-foot 3-pointer by Crawford just before the buzzer. In all, Denver shot 23.8 per cent in the first, getting just two baskets from the starters, while falling behind 39-15. Boston shot 65.4 per cent to match a season high for points in a quarter it set in the fourth during Tuesday nights victory over Milwaukee; the Celtics topped their season high for a half, taking a 64-44 lead into the break. The Nuggets scored the first nine points of the second half -- six from Hickson -- during a 16-2 run that made it 66-60 with 8:38 left in the third. They eventually cut it to three points before Humphries made a pair of baskets and Bradley hit a 3 to make it 83-73 with just more than 2 minutes left in the quarter. NOTES: Before the game, the Celtics observed a moment of silence for South African president Nelson Mandela, calling him "a friend of the NBA." ... Nuggets guard Nate Robinson, a member of the Celtics when they made the NBA Finals in 2010, got a smattering of applause when he came off the bench in the first quarter. ... With the back-to-back losses, Denver fell to 5-2 against the East. Jason Kipnis Indians Jersey . -- Ben Crane has waited so long to contend for another PGA Tour title that being patient through weather delays is no problem at all. Lonnie Chisenhall Indians Jersey . The outfielder hasnt played since April 26. Braun was hitting .318 with six homers and 18 RBIs when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3. Braun took batting practice before the teams game Wednesday afternoon against Arizona. NASHVILLE -- Nashvilles defence came up with some timely offence again. Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Nick Spaling, Shea Weber, and Mike Fisher also scored for Nashville, which has won three of four. Seven of Nashvilles past 15 goals have been scored by its defencemen. "We try to jump up in the play if we can and do something for the offence," Josi said. "Lately it has been clicking." Cody Eakin scored for Dallas, losers of nine of 10. "Ill take the blame for that," Dallas captain Jamie Benn said. "When youre a leader its unacceptable. I think for myself, it just wasnt being smart with the puck. We talked about it, but Im still doing it. Its something I have to clean up and the rest of the guys do too." With Dallas on a power play, Eakin scored the games first goal at 4:45 of the opening period with a slap shot from the lower part of the right faceoff circle. It was the only shot to get by Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton, who made 35 saves in the game. He has won his past three starts. Former Predator Rich Peverley assisted on the goal, his second in as many games. The power play came as a result of a David Legwand goaltender interference penalty that negated an apparent goal off the stick of Weber at 3:06. Legwands stick appeared to get under the right skate of Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Spaling got Nashville on the board at 11:35 of the first when he picked up the rebound of Josis shot from the left circle and beat Lehtonen for his eighth goal of the season. "The first period, I thought we played well," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "Get a goal called off, get a penalty out of it, they turn around and score. Joe Carter Indians Jersey. Ive been saying that our group is really resilient and what do we do? Come out after they score, we get a goal, Carter makes a really good momentum save and we come back and score shortly after that." Weber put Nashville ahead 2-1 at 17:16 of the first with a wrist shot from the high slot through traffic that beat Lehtonen high to the stick side. On Sunday, Weber was selected as one of Team Canadas two alternate captains for the Winter Olympics. "There were a lot of guys in front, and I just tried to get it through," Weber said. With less than a minute remaining in the second, Josi corralled a loose puck in the lower part of the left circle and beat Lehtonen on the stick side for his sixth goal of the season. The Swiss Olympian has established new career highs in goals (six), assists (14), and points (20). Going into the second intermission with a two-goal deficit made an impact on the Stars. "I thought for a period of time in the second period we were just trying to hang around," Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said. "We missed a puck at the end of the period and instead of a 2-1 game where we can make things happen in the third, we walk into the dressing room (down) 3-1." At 3:46 of the third, Colin Wilson carried the puck along the left side before sending a behind the back pass to Fisher, who beat Lehtonen for his 13th of the season. Former Star Eric Nystrom had two assists in the game for Nashville, his first multi-point game as a Predator. NOTES: Nashville is 5-20-3 when its opponent scores first. ... Josi has assists in four consecutive games. ... Dallas has scored a power-play goal in its past four games. ... Stars RW Valeri Nichushkin was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '