The Denver Nuggets, aided by stacked superstars Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and crew, were able to take down the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. In a closer-than-expected, back-and-forth battle, the Nuggets were able to come out on top with a final score of 125-119. Nuggets big man, Nikola Joki?, aka “The Joker,” recorded yet another triple-double. In 38 minutes of action, Joki? went for 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists. Tonight’s stellar performance goes down as The Joker’s 21st triple-double this season.
Denver Nuggets: The Mile High Advantage
It goes without saying that home-court advantage can make it or break it for any team. There are no exceptions for that of the Nuggets. Coming into tonight’s game, Denver had tied for second place in the Western Conference, a 44-20 record. Furthermore, the Denver Nuggets have been on a four-game home stand, earning a 3-1 record. However, the traveling Raptors, powered by power forward Kelly Olynyk, were not phased by the three-headed monster in front of them.
Denver Nuggets: Not how you start, It’s How You Finish
Before Monday’s game, the Nuggets celebrated a major 142-121 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, March 9. Despite their great success recently, the Raptors were determined to stir up some trouble. Toronto entered the game 23-41, well below the .500 average; despite this, they were able to outscore in both quarters of the first half. Outscoring the Nuggets 34-32 in the first quarter, and then again 34-19 in the second quarter. The Raptors were flying high, with a commanding 68-51 lead going into the half.
Everyone loves a comeback story. It’s the all-American way, the biblical David vs. Goliath, however, you’d like to put it, we’re all drawn to it. Except that this was a slightly different, non-traditional comeback. The heavily favorite Denver Nuggets are easily the Goliath in this story, and they ultimately were able to survive the threat of David. Either way, this made for a great, and exciting night of NBA action.
As the third quarter began, the Nuggets, down 17 points, were able to roar back. Outscoring the Raptors, 42-30 in the third, fueled the energy in Ball Arena. The third-quarter performance was impressive, but Denver still saw themselves down 98-93 entering the fourth. The heat of the battle was ongoing, and the end was near as the fourth quarter demanded excellence up and down the court. Finally, the Nuggets, being down over 20 points earlier in the game, were able to tame the threat of defeat from Canada’s best basketball team. Outscoring the Raptors 32-21 in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets ultimately were able to pull out the team’s 45th victory of the season in a final score of 125-119.
The Finish Line in Sight
The Denver Nuggets only have 17 games left this season. Seven of them will be nationally televised. With 50+ wins in very achievable territory, the Nuggets race to secure first place in the Western Conference continues. As of this writing, Denver sits only a half-game behind the top dog, the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a 9-1 record in the last ten games, the Nuggets are really starting to find a late-season grove. The championship hangover that never was, this Nuggets squad knows exactly what it takes to win. The finish line to secure first place will take nearly winning out, and some assistance with the Thunder dropping a few games will definitely help.
Overall, the Nuggets were able to take down the threat of the Toronto Raptors, utilizing this earned energy will only help catapult them for the remainder of the season. The Denver Nuggets will quickly turn around with a trip to South Beach. This Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN, catch the Nuggets against the Miami Heat of the Eastern Conference.
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