The Toronto Raptors defeated the Denver Nuggets, 105-102, at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
Through the season’s first two games, Kyle Lowry couldn’t seem to find the net, shooting just 8-for-29 over that span. Backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan, meanwhile, was playing like a player fully deserving of the $139 million commitment the Raptors (2-1) had made in him this past offseason. Monday, it all came together for the talented backcourt duo, as they combined for a 62-point tally to spearhead Toronto in a victory that was in doubt until the final buzzer. Danilo Gallinari’s last-gasp three-point heave nearly found the basket as the clock hit double zeros, helping the Raptors avert overtime and win their second home game in three tries.
A trio of 16-point efforts from Gallinari, Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay paced the scoring output for the Nuggets (1-2) on the night. Gallinari did a lot of his damage from the free-throw line, where he converted all eight attempts, and was just 3-for-11 from the field. Jusuf Nurkic was dominant down low, notching 13 points, 18 rebounds, an assist, five blocks and a steal. Frontcourt mate Nikola Jokic turned in a solid 12 points, along with four boards and an assist. Jameer Nelson paced the bench with a 13-point effort.
DeRozan’s 33 points led the Raptors, a scoring total he supplemented with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Lowry followed with a season-high 29 points and added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. His final points of the night, a driving layup with 45 seconds remaining, also gave Toronto a little breathing room by extending the lead to 105-102. Jonas Valanciunas continued his strong early-season play with 12 points, nine boards, an assist and a block, while DeMarre Carroll supplied 10 points, a pair of rebounds and a block.
The Nuggets next head to Minnesota for a Thursday showdown with the Timberwolves, while the Raptors hit the road for the first time this season when they face off with Golden State on Wednesday.
