DENVER (AP) – The Denver Nuggets made it seem like old times Wednesday night, running to a 107-86 victory over the Boston Celtics to give Doug Moe a win in his first game back on the bench as George Karl’s new assistant.

Andre Miller scored 22 points and Carmelo Anthony had 19 points, six rebounds and six assists to help the Nuggets successfully begin their post-All-Star-game run at the playoffs.

Seeking some help on the bench, Karl persuaded Moe, his old North Carolina buddy and the winningest coach in Nuggets history, to sit by him for the final 29 games of the season. Moe agreed – “because I’m stupid, or something like that,” he said – and the Nuggets played a lot like they did when he was coaching them to 432 victories from 1980-90.

Moving the ball in the halfcourt and pushing it whenever they could, they had 29 points after one quarter, 57 at halftime and 94 after three, the last three coming on a 30-footer by DerMarr Johnson at the buzzer.

Moe’s old Nuggets scored 120 on most nights, and while that might be asking too much in this era, there was no denying this was a more entertaining version of this team than fans had seen most of the season.

The Celtics, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 since the All-Star break, this coming a night after a 104-95 loss to the Lakers. They were dragging through much of this game, and frustrated, as well.

Coach Doc Rivers got ejected at the end of the first half. His second technical was the last in a string of four Boston received in the final 0.3 seconds of the half. Gary Payton got one for arguing, but officials turned the other way when, at the buzzer, he chucked the ball 15 rows up into the stands.

Delonte West led the Celtics with 17 points. Paul Pierce had 16.