BOSTON -- Kris Humphries didnt play 20 minutes in a game for the whole month of November. 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. Alexei Kovalev Jersey . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Doug Harvey Jersey . -- Among the 31 players at the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, none feels closer to cracking the NHL roster than right winger Aaron Palushaj. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-h...nadiens-jersey/. Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., had 18 aces in the match. He needed one hour 39 minutes to complete the victory. Guy Lafleur Jersey . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Guy Lapointe Jersey . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec.SAN DIEGO - The Colorado Rockies got another unexpected outing from a starting pitcher who had been relegated to the bullpen. Franklin Morales followed a good start by Jorge De La Rosa with one of his own, helping the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 Thursday. Colorado used Wilin Rosarios tiebreaking groundout in a three-run seventh to overcome Ian Kennedy, who pitched a one-hit shutout through the sixth. Morales (1-1) allowed one run and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and a walk. Morales made his second career start against the Padres — and first since allowing one hit in six shutout innings at San Diego on Sept. 21, 2007. "That was crucial for him to get through the sixth," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "He stepped up. Its tough to go back and forth between the pen and starting." Injuries to Tyler Chatwood and Brett Anderson, have forced the Rockies to start Morales and De La Rosa, who both were sent to the bullpen earlier after ineffective starts. De La Rosa was the loser in Wednesday nights 4-2 defeat, but threw well; he allowed three runs — two earned — and seven hits in six innings. "I have a job to do," Morales said. "I dont worry about where I pitch. I just want to do whatever I can to help my team win." Morales allowed a solo homer to Xavier Nady leading off the fourth, a drive off the facing of the second deck in left field. That stood until the seventh. Corey Dickerson reached on a one-out double, Troy Tulowitzki walked and Justin Morneau lined a ball to right field. Chris Denorfia broke in, then retreated as the ball went his head for an RBI double. "Morneau hit that ball pretty hard and they got a couple guys on," Kennedy said. "I was trying to get a double play in that situation." Rosario grounded out to shortstop as Tulowitzki scored for a 2-1 lead, and Nolan Arenado followed wwith a run-scoring single.dddddddddddd "Kennedy was tough, pounding the ball down, hitting the corners," Morneau said. "But when he made mistakes, we took advantage, and we had some good at-bats in the seventh." LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth to remain perfect in four save chances, finishing just the fourth win for the Rockies in 11 road games this season. Kennedy retired his first 12 batters before walking Tulowitzki leading off the fifth. He didnt allow a hit until Arenados leadoff double in the sixth. "Its tough. I threw well for the first six innings," Kennedy said. "I felt like I was executing my pitches. I was getting ahead of guys and when I didnt start off with strike one I felt like I was getting back to even in the count and it was just nice to execute like that." NOTES: Nadys homer was his third of the season and San Diegos eighth, the lowest total in the NL. ... San Diegos Everth Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second-inning double. ... Padres 3B Chase Headley was held out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game with a strained right biceps. Headley had a pinch-single in the eighth. ... Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer left in the seventh with a right hamstring cramp. ... Longtime Rockies 1B Todd Helton is scheduled to be inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night at Sports Authority Field in Denver. ... Padres 1B Yonder Alonso entered in the ninth inning and played third base for the third time in his big league career. ... Anderson had surgery on Thursday to have pins inserted into his fractured left index finger. The pins are expected to remain for six weeks. ... The Rockies open a three-game set at home Friday night against Philadelphia, which sends RHP Jonathan Pettibone (0-0) against RHP Tyler Chatwood (0-0). ... Giants RHP Matt Cain (0-2) opposes Padres RHP Tyson Ross (1-2) on Friday night. Authentic Bills JerseysDolphins Stitched JerseysCheap Patriots JerseysWholesale Jets JerseysWholesale Texans JerseysCheap Colts JerseysJaguars Jerseys StoreAuthentic Titans JerseysAuthentic Broncos JerseysAuthentic Chiefs JerseysCheap Raiders JerseysChargers Jerseys StoreCheap Ravens JerseysWholesale Bengals JerseysCheap Browns JerseysSteelers Jerseys StoreWholesale Cowboys JerseysWholesale Giants JerseysAuthentic Eagles JerseysCheap Redskins JerseysAuthentic Falcons JerseysPanthers Jerseys StoreWholesale Saints JerseysAuthentic Buccaneers JerseysWholesale Cardinals JerseysCheap 49ers JerseysSeahawks Jerseys StoreWholesale Rams JerseysWholesale Bears JerseysAuthentic Lions JerseysCheap Packers JerseysVikings Jerseys Store ' ' '