In a dramatic Monday night NBA showdown, the Denver Nuggets orchestrated a remarkable comeback, rallying from 21 points down in the third quarter to secure a 125-119 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Jamal Murray was instrumental in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 26 points to spearhead the rally, complemented by Nikola Jokic‘s dominant performance, which included his 21st triple-double of the season.
“He just does a really good job of anticipating and playing the angles,” Murray said. “It’s less about being in the spot, he’s playing the angle and the line of the pass. Shout out to Jok.”
Jokic tallied 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists, along with a season-high six steals, underscoring his pivotal role in Denver’s comeback and improving their post-All-Star break record to 9-1.
The Raptors, significantly hampered by injuries to key players including Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr., provided an opportunity for lesser-utilized players to step up. Among them was Jontay Porter, who not only made his NBA debut alongside his brother Michael Porter Jr. but also posted a career-high 14 points.
“I was really happy for Jontay,” Porter Jr. said. “Not only him being out there but also the way he played. It was a special moment being out there together.”
Despite the Raptors’ early dominance, leading by as much as 22 points, the Nuggets’ third-quarter surge cut the deficit significantly, setting the stage for a thrilling final quarter.
“An NBA game, you’re up 20 or down 20 the game is never over,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “I know when they come out after halftime they were going to be more aggressive, and how to handle those moments is a learning opportunity for us.”
The game remained tightly contested until the Nuggets’ late surge clinched the lead, with Michael Porter Jr.’s crucial three-pointer sealing the win for Denver.
“We knew our energy was a lot better than it was in the first half and that would get us back into the game,” Murray said. “I don’t know when we took the lead, I kind of zoned out. We did a good job of not playing the score, just playing hard.”
As the Raptors look ahead to their next game against Detroit, and the Nuggets set their sights on Miami, both teams take valuable lessons from a game that underscored the unpredictable nature of NBA basketball.
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