Nuggets outlast Raptors in continuation of winning ways minus Jamal Murray

By Lombardia Salute On Apr 30, 2021

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Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 rebounds in just three quarters to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Toronto Raptors 121-111 on Thursday night.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points for the Nuggets, who had seven players score in double figures and used a 31-8 run over the third and fourth quarters to win their fourth straight. They are a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for third in the Western Conference.

“This is the point you want to be at,” Porter said. “Nine, 10 games until playoffs, so this is the fun. We have to make sure we’re in prime-time shape and ready to go once the playoffs start.”

Denver improved to 8-1 since Jamal Murray went down with a torn ACL in his left knee on April 12. The Nuggets also lost guards Monte Morris and Will Barton to hamstring injuries, but both are expected to return this season.

WATCH | Raptors stumble in 4th to lose to Nuggets:

Denver defeats Toronto 121-111, Michael Porter Jr. team-high 23 points. 0:30

Without its starting backcourt, Denver has relied on reserves Facu Campazzo, P.J. Dozier and Shaquille Harrison, a two-way player getting a chance to make an impact. He did Thursday with a season-high 11 points, and Campazzo followed up his first double-double on Wednesday night with 12 points.

Jokic’s double-double was his 53rd of the season.

OG Anunoby scored 25 points for the Raptors, Kyle Lowry and Khem Birch had 20 each, and Malachi Flynn, who started in place of injured Fred VanVleet (hip), pitched in with 16.

The Nuggets led by six in the second quarter and again late in the third, but Toronto rallied both times to tie it. It was 87-85 after three quarters. Denver scored the first 12 points of the fourth against the Raptors’ bench and held them to just a pair of 3-pointers by Lowry in the first 5:40 of the fourth.

“It turned the tide of the game, got them feeling pretty good and they didn’t stop pretty much until the end,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. “It was not a good lineup. They didn’t get any stops and didn’t get any scores.”

Lowry’s flagrant foul on P.J. Dozier led to a six-point possession for Denver and a 21-point lead. Denver held the Raptors two just two made field goals in the first 7:28 of the fourth.

“For me, being a defensive-minded coach, that was some of the best basketball I’ve seen that group play,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.

WATCH | North Courts crew discusses rise of Montreal basketball:

Are we seeing a Montreal uprising in Canada Basketball? Vivek Jacob, Jevohn Shepherd, and Meghan McPeak discuss Montreal hoops, and Joel Anthony joins to discuss the city finally getting the respect it deserves. 13:15

www.cbc.ca 2021-04-30 03:56:49