The Denver Nuggets are almost literally fielding the B squad in their starting lineup. Down four usual starters, the Nuggets faced a tall task on the road in a Toronto Raptors team that has been healthy and playing well. It took a team effort with Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson leading the way in what ended up being a seven-man rotation with yet another member of Denver’s roster, Jonas Valanciunas, going down with an injury. The Nuggets overcame a big performance from Brandon Ingram (and what looked like a crazy buzzer beater) to steal a hard earned, 106-103 win in Toronto.
Denver’s offense was clunky as expected to open, they got a couple of buckets through Valanciunas but otherwise the guys looked a little lost. Murray started to settle in and hit some threes and that seemed to calm the rest of the guys down as they built a small lead. It ended up being an extended run with Murray and Valanciunas leading the way and Denver getting up by eight midway through the quarter. Toronto was not shooting the ball well which kept the Nuggets in front even when they went through a dry spell going down the stretch of the quarter. The Raptors eventually found their offense right at the end of the first, particularly Scottie Barnes. They were able to get Denver’s lead down to 32-23 at the end of the quarter.
Jalen Pickett had a couple of buckets early in the second quarter but otherwise it was slow going for the Nuggets on offense. They kept their defensive pressure up though and didn’t let the Raptors cut into the lead. Denver continued to look uncomfortable. Every now and then they’d get a good play executed and knock down an open three, which was enough to keep them ahead, but everything felt very forced. They got Murray and Valanciunas back into the game still leading by ten. Watson had a nice take to the basket and the Nuggets briefly went up thirteen before the Raptors started to hit some shots. Watson continued his good play with the half winding down. Murray got a nice shot right before the buzzer and Denver went into the locker room leading 63-54.
The Raptors opened the second half by immediately going on a run and hitting back to back threes. It was a 9-0 run to tie the game. The only thing the Nuggets could muster were free throws. They didn’t make an actual field goal until just past the seven minute mark of the quarter when Valanciunas bullied his way to a three foot hook shot. Toronto cooled off after their initial run and though Denver wasn’t suddenly burning down the nets, they were still getting to the line which fueled a run of their own to get back in front. Unfortunately, the momentum was lost immediately when Valanciunas coming up lame holding his calf. He had to come out of the game band would not return. Toronto worked their way back in front but DaRon Holmes II was stepping up as the suddenly starting center. Watson had another strong take right before the quarter ended and that put the Nuggets up 85-79 after three.
<Holmes had some nice plays out of the gate in the fourth but Denver was otherwise getting killed on the glass and the Raptors erased the lead. Hardaway started forcing shots with the offense bottoming out and the game tied and the Nuggets got just enough points to keep pace. With Valanciunas out and Holmes getting a rest the Nuggets went small midway through the quarter. There was a lot of missed shots on both sides but Watson got some buckets for the Nuggets and Ingram countered for Toronto. Denver was hanging on by a thread and got some help with the Raptors shooting themselves in the foot. The Nuggets were up three with just about two minutes to go and Murray trying to will the offense. The game was right there for the taking for whichever team wanted to execute in the clutch…or really just string together a pair of shots. Neither could do that but the Raptors got a couple trips to the line and set themselves up for a final shot trailing three. R.J. Barrett got a good look and it was halfway down but rimmed out. After a foul, Bruce Brown missed both free throws and it looked like Ingram had tied it on a crazy bank three but after further review the ball was still on his fingertips when the clock hit zeroes. Nuggets escape with a great win in Canada, 106-103.
