Nikola Jokić had 26 points (20 in the paint) and 10 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets went on a 23-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to beat the Toronto Raptors 95-86.
The Raptors went on a 12-3 run to lead 70-57 with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Jamal Murray’s corner 3-pointer put the Nuggets ahead for good with 9:51 left in the fourth quarter. He scored 10 points and Jokić added 6 during the run. The Nuggets led 80-72 with 8:12 left.
The Raptors got within 88-85 on Kawhi Leonard’s 17-foot jumper with 2:46 to play, but Murray answered with a driving layup, and the Raptors got no closer.
During clutch time, the Nuggets outscored the Raptors 6-4.
For the Raptors, Leonard had 29 points and 14 rebounds.
The Nuggets shot 42.4% from the field and 33.3% from 3 to the Raptors’ 39.8% and 20.0%. The Raptors forced 9 turnovers, about 4 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Raptors were outscored 22-10 in 10 minutes with Miles, Green, Monroe, Brown and Anunoby on the floor together. Serge Ibaka fouled out.