Nikola Jokić had 28 points (18 in the first quarter) and 15 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Toronto Raptors 110-109.
Bones Hyland’s 29-foot 3-pointer put the Nuggets ahead for good with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors had the ball down 1 with 1.0 seconds left, but Jokić blocked OG Anunoby’s putback at the rim, lifting the Nuggets’ chance to win from 86% to 96%. It would have put the Raptors ahead.
During clutch time, the Nuggets outscored the Raptors 12-10. Jokić (No. 3 in clutch points, 2021-22) scored 7 of the Nuggets’ 12 on 3 for 5 shooting and 1 for 3 at the line.
For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam had a season-high 35 points (18 in the paint), 10 rebounds and 7 assists on 16 for 22 shooting, and Fred VanVleet added 25 points with 6 3-pointers.
The Raptors got 8 offensive rebounds, about 5 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. They outscored the Nuggets 22-10 off turnovers.