Thank U, Next: Shorthanded Nuggets dispose Raptors

The open looks had been there all night. The Nuggets just weren’t making them. But that changed in a 23-2 second-half run that propelled Denver past the Toronto Raptors 95-86.

Shorthanded and coming off a thrilling win over the Thunder on Friday night, Denver shot just 15-43 (34.9 percent) from the field in the first half but turned things on in the third. Behind Jamal Murray, who had a flurry of buckets during the game-turning 4 1/2 minute stretch, Denver went from trailing 70-57 with 3:55 remaining in the third to leading 80-72 with 8:12 on the clock in fourth. From there, Nikola Jokic (26 points) and Co. finished off the Raptors for the second time this season.

Five Nuggets — Mason Plumlee (10 points), who guarded Kawhi Leonard for much of Sunday’s win, Murray (19 points), Craig (13 points), and Morris (11 points) — players scored in double figures. Jokic ended up with nine rebounds and four assists too.

For the Raptors, Kawhi Leonard led the way with 29 points and 14 rebounds.

Denver hosts Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.