Follow usNikola Jokic delivered a stellar performance with 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Jamal Murray contributed 26 points and 12 assists as the Denver Nuggets staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the short-handed Toronto Raptors 125-119 on Monday night. Jokic’s triple-double marked his 21st this season and 126th in his career.
Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. each scored 19 points for Denver, extending their winning streak to nine out of the last ten games. Toronto faced significant roster challenges, missing key players due to injuries, including Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent Jr., and Chris Boucher. This opened up opportunities for lesser-used players like Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jontay Porter, and Ochai Agbaji.
Jontay Porter, Michael Porter Jr.’s younger brother, had a career-high 14 points off the bench. Despite the Raptors’ strong start, leading by 22 points in the first half, Denver mounted a comeback. The Nuggets closed the gap to 68-51 at halftime and continued to chip away at Toronto’s lead in the third quarter.
The turning point came as the Nuggets staged a 16-5 run to end the third quarter, reducing the deficit to 98-93. In the fourth quarter, Denver continued their surge, with Murray’s layup bringing them within one point at 103-102. A crucial 8-0 run, sparked by Murray’s floater, gave the Nuggets a 112-107 lead with 5:35 remaining.
Although Toronto’s RJ Barrett made a late attempt to close the gap to 121-119, Michael Porter Jr.’s 3-pointer secured the victory for Denver. The Nuggets closed out the game, sealing their ninth win in the last ten outings.
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