Russell Westbrook scored 21 points and delivered tenacious defense on the final play to help the Denver Nuggets rally past the Toronto Raptors 121-119 on Monday night.
Nikola Jokic recorded his third triple-double in four games, finishing with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists as Denver overcame a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit. The Nuggets played without Jamal Murray (concussion protocol) and lost Aaron Gordon to a right calf strain in the first quarter.
Toronto led 109-98 with 5:45 remaining, but Denver surged ahead late. Peyton Watson’s clutch 3-pointer put the Nuggets up 118-117, and after a back-and-forth exchange, Julian Strawther split a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left.
The Raptors had one final chance, but Westbrook locked down RJ Barrett on the perimeter, forcing a contested 26-footer at the buzzer that fell short.
Gradey Dick led Toronto with 26 points, while Jakob Poeltl added 24. Barrett finished with 18 points.
Takeaways
Raptors: Help could be on the way soon, as forward Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture) is avoiding surgery for now, according to coach Darko Rajakovic. Barnes hasn’t played since Toronto’s home loss to Denver on Oct. 28.
Nuggets: Denver’s bench has stepped up with multiple injuries impacting the lineup. Strawther has played well recently, and rookie Hunter Tyson continues to take advantage of his minutes.
Key Moment
Toronto was up by six when Poeltl picked up his fifth and sixth fouls in a span of 23 seconds. With their big man sidelined, the Raptors struggled defensively as Denver outscored them 14-8 the rest of the way.
Key Stat
Jokic now has three triple-doubles in his last four games. He narrowly missed a fourth, falling one rebound shy against Minnesota on Friday night. However, he also committed seven turnovers against Toronto.
Up Next
Raptors: Continue their road trip in Sacramento on Wednesday night.
Nuggets: Host Oklahoma City for the second time in two weeks.
