Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant 40-point performance, scoring seven in overtime, as the Denver Nuggets erased a 15-point deficit to edge the Toronto Raptors 127-125 on Monday night.
Jamal Murray forced overtime with a clutch reverse layup in the final second of regulation, keeping Denver’s hopes alive. Jokic also pulled down 10 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon contributed 16 points and 11 boards.
Toronto had a chance to tie or win in the final moments of overtime, but RJ Barrett missed a three-pointer, and Ochai Agbaji and Jakob Poeltl couldn’t convert on tip-in attempts.
Murray and Christian Braun each added 17 points, helping the defending champions secure their first victory after dropping their first two games of the season.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists but had to leave the game in the final minute of the fourth quarter after taking an elbow to the right eye.
Barrett made his season debut after missing the first three games with a sprained right shoulder, finishing with 20 points. Poeltl had 16 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds.
Takeaways
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon had an all-around strong game, finishing with eight assists, while Jamal Murray added seven.
Raptors: Barnes suffered a late-game injury when he was elbowed with 24 seconds remaining in regulation. He stumbled to the bench before being helped to the locker room.
Key Moment
Early in the fourth quarter, tensions flared when Russell Westbrook delivered a hard foul on Barnes as he drove to the basket. The two exchanged words before Gordon got involved, leading to a brief scuffle. Officials assessed Westbrook with a flagrant foul, while Barnes and Gordon received offsetting technicals.
Key Stat
Jokic logged a game-high 44 minutes in the victory, leading Denver’s comeback effort.
Up Next
Denver continues its road trip with a visit to Brooklyn on Tuesday night, while Toronto heads to Charlotte for a matchup against the Hornets on Wednesday.
