The Denver Nuggets Complete Another 20-point Comeback

Nikola Jokić – A+

Where should we start first—offense or defense? Sure, Jokić posted another thirty-point triple-double, but that’s just another day at the office for the big fella. He also had six steals and two blocks as he sparked another 20-point comeback for the Denver Nuggets. Denver trailed by 17 at the half, their largest deficit in Ball Arena this season. Then, the Nuggets flipped the switch. The offense always comes around eventually. Their comebacks start with defensive intensity. And Jokić led the way.

Of course, this is a game about buckets at the end of the day. And Jokić had plenty of those for a tattered Raptors roster. He finished with 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists. He put on a bonafide masterclass in the third quarter. He played all 12 minutes, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds, dishing out four assists, and recording five combined steals and blocks. The Nuggets scored 42 points in the third.

Let’s keep our heads. The Raptors played their B team in the defending champs’ house. The best player alive should feast in such a scenario. Of course, Jokić’s greatness is rooted in his consistency. He’s more than capable of transcendent performances—he delivers them virtually every time.

Jamal Murray – A+

Murray struggled mightily in the first half. Which meant he was a lock to go off in the second. And that’s precisely what he did. Murray scored 21 points in the second half alone. His playmaking also shined, finishing with 12 total assists and only two turnovers. He found his bigs with dazzling passes and even Michael Porter Jr. in the corner for the dagger.

That connection, or lack thereof, was a talking point earlier in the season. But those two have turned a corner in their chemistry. Murray was an elite floor general and scorer while Denver rallied. He looked particularly motivated, for whatever reason, to deliver a strong performance against the Raptors. He finished a game-high +15.

Michael Porter Jr. – B

Porter got hot in the first quarter. So hot that he scored buckets for both teams in under nine minutes played. He scored 9 points, but Denver still lost the quarter by two due to an overall lack of intensity on defense. It didn’t help that Porter tipped a defensive rebound in either.

Thanks to Denver’s comeback and Porter’s all-around contributions, the tip-in proved funnier than anything. He scored 19 points on 57% shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, recorded three assists, two combined stocks, and did not turn the ball over. Jontay Porter, MPJ’s brother, played 21:58 for the Raptors. The two faced off in the NBA for the first time and exchanged jerseys after the game.

Aaron Gordon – B

The depleted Raptors struggled to contain Gordon’s combination of size and strength. He scored 19 points on 8/9 shooting. One was a three, and the rest were layups and dunks at the rim. AG’s on a remarkable dunk run right now. He’s on pace to break his season-high in the category. He did most of his work early against Toronto, scoring 10 points in the first quarter.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – C–

Pope played a strange game. He turned it over twice in the first quarter and even slipped up on defense. He’s typically airtight in his role, but he didn’t play his best game against the Raptors. He only scored three points on 1/6 shooting in thirty-two and a half minutes. Ultimately, he stopped turning it over and finished with six assists. He knocked down a clutch 3 in the fourth as well.

Reggie Jackson – C

Jackson struggled as a shooter but did timely damage when attacking the rim. Three of his four makes were layups, and they occurred in a short spurt at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth. It’s worth noting that he finished a team-worst -7. Still, he played a role in the comeback.

Christian Braun – C+

Braun and Peyton Watson, the booth boys, are on a good run of making a positive impact off the bench. CB struggled a bit from the field but played with good energy, particularly on defense. The bench kept their positive momentum rolling.

Peyton Watson – B+

Watson is an outrageous defender. It’s a treat to watch him work on that end. He covers ground like a big cat and quickly calculates his angles. He only blocked one shot against Toronto, but it was impossible to miss his energy. His impact extended beyond the box score. He also scored seven points and corralled five rebounds. He continues to eat from mid-range.

Zeke Nnaji – D

Zeke played nine minutes in the win. He scored on one of two field goal attempts but did not record a rebound or assist. He did dunk the ball, though, and we love to see that.

Justin Holiday – F

Holiday played eight minutes in the win. He posted straight zeroes in the box score, save for his one turnover.