The Denver Nuggets secured a 121-115 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, in a game that went down to the wire. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 31 points, while Nikola Jokic contributed 22 points and nine rebounds.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played a key role, adding 23 points and shooting an impressive 7 of 10 from beyond the arc. Aaron Gordon also chipped in with 16 points for Denver, who have now improved to 8-8 since the All-Star break.
Raptors’ Comeback Falls Short
The Toronto Raptors, despite the loss, saw strong performances from Jakob Poeltl, who scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Brandon Ingram, who added 19 points. R.J. Barrett also contributed 18 points for the Raptors, whose three-game winning streak was snapped. Scottie Barnes finished with 15 points.
Trailing 101-98, Hardaway levelled the scores with a timely 3-pointer with 7:27 remaining in the game. The Nuggets then established a 115-110 lead with 1:43 left on the clock, but the Raptors fought back.
Barnes scored a layup with 1:32 remaining, followed by a three-point play from Poeltl, who was fouled by Jokic, tying the game at 115 with just 60 seconds left to play.
Nuggets Close Out the Game
The Nuggets responded with a 6-0 run to close out the game and secure the win. Jokic made a turnaround jumper, Murray converted three free throws, and Gordon added one of his own to seal the victory for Denver.
Looking Ahead
The Raptors are set to play at Phoenix on Sunday night. The Nuggets will host Portland on Sunday night.