DENVER (AP) — Randy Foye scored a season-high 23 points, connecting on seven 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets routed the Boston Celtics 129-98 on Tuesday night for their third straight win after an eight-game losing streak.

Kenneth Faried had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Ty Lawson added 19 points and 13 assists for the Nuggets, who sent the Celtics to their fifth loss in a row and reversed a 106-98 loss at Boston on Dec. 6. The Nuggets returned to .500 (17-17) with the victory.

Jerryd Bayless, acquired earlier in the day by Boston as part of a three team trade that also involved Memphis and Oklahoma, had 6 points in 25 minutes in his Celtics debut.

Jeff Green led Boston with 17 points. Brandon Bass had 15 and Avrey Bradley 12.

Both teams lost a key figure to ejection during a testy third quarter, when the Nuggets led by as many 32 points, their biggest lead of the night.

Boston’s Jared Sullinger was tossed with 8:43 left in the third quarter after he picked up two flagrant fouls within 23 seconds of each other.

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Nuggets coach Brian Shaw drew two technicals in succession and was ejected with 2:43 left in the third quarter by referee Rodney Mott for arguing with him over a call during a timeout.

Faried, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov all had dunks off alley-oop passes in the third quarter, and Faried converted a three-point play with 4:21 left in the period to put the Nuggets up by 32 points, their biggest lead of the night. Boston never led at any point in the game.

The Nuggets built a 68-45 lead in the first half, closing the second quarter with a 10-run that included a 3-pointer by Foye and back-to-back dunks off the fastbreak by Faried and J.J. Hickson. Denver made 10 of its 3-pointers in registering a season-high in first-half scoring, including four by Foye.

NOTES: Andre Miller remains on personal leave from the Nuggets and the team has given no indication on when or if he’ll rejoin the club. Miller has been away from the team since a verbal clash with coach Brian Shaw during a New Year’s Day loss to Philadelphia over his lack of playing time. … Foye has scored in double figures in each of his last six games. … Boston gave up season highs in points to an opponent in consecutive games. The previous high came two days ago when Oklahoma City scored 119. … The Celtics have lost nine of their last 10 games against the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.


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