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The Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, two teams certain to visit the postseason, got together at TD Garden for a game which had importance for both teams.

If the Nuggets win, they edge closer to the Dallas Mavericks, seeding-wise. If the Celtics prevail, they clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Apparently, the Celtics wanted it more as the frontcourt of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett made things miserable for the Nuggets, enabling the Celtics to easily defeat Denver 113-99. The win clinched a playoff spot for the Celtics while the Nuggets slipped one-half game behind the Mavericks and into a third-place tie with the Utah Jazz with their third consecutive loss.

Boston played aggressively from the start, beginning with Garnett’s dunk on an alley-oop pass from Kendrick Perkins for the first basket of the game; they would lead 30-27 after the first quarter in which Pierce outscored Carmelo Anthony 14-11 and stretched their lead to 61-51 at halftime.

The Celtics came out strong to begin the second half with a 18-7 run that gave them a 79-58 cushion. But the Nuggets responded, starting with a three-point play by Anthony. Trailing by 85-69, they scored eight straight points – six by Anthony. Michael Finley stopped the Nuggets surge with a basket that made it 87-77, before J.R. Smith hit a trey at the buzzer. Boston would outscore Denver 26-19 in the final quarter to seal the win.

Pierce led the Celtics with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block while Garnett chipped in 20 with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal; Ray Allen poured in 16 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block while Rajon Rondo secured a double-double, scoring 11 with 15 assists and 4 steals.

Anthony led all Nuggets scorers with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block while Smith added 21 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Boston (46-25) plays again on Friday when they host the Sacramento Kings while Denver (47-25) travels to Toronto to take on the Raptors – also on Friday night.