Jokic’s triple-double leads Nuggets over Raptors, 133-118

DENVER — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists for his 12th triple-double of the season to lead the Denver Nuggets over the short-handed Toronto Raptors, 133-118 on Sunday night.

Jokic has 43 triple-doubles in his short career, completing his latest by feeding Jerami Grant on a dunk that helped the Nuggets pull away from the Raptors, who lost their third straight.

Grant finished with 16 points for Denver, which had eight players score in double figures.

Toronto played without Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet for a second straight game but got a career night from OG Anunoby, who finished with 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting.

Denver hit its first nine 3-point attempts — five by Jamal Murray, who had 17 of his 22 points in the first 12 minutes — before Monte Morris missed with 1:06 left in the first quarter. The Nuggets shot 63.6% in the first quarter and 60% in the first half.

They hit 50 per cent from long range and finished the game 56.6% from the field.

Jokic had 10 points and 10 rebounds at halftime and and was already three assists shy of a triple-double.

The Raptors withstood the hot shooting to tie it at 60 in the second quarter and trailed just 73-69 at intermission. It was a two-point Denver lead late in the third quarter but the Nuggets opened up a 112-101 lead with 8:10 left in the fourth.

Toronto twice cut the deficit to five points but Denver closed it out for the win. Jokic got his ninth assist on a court-length pass to Gary Harris for a dunk midway through the fourth.

TIP-INS

Raptors: C Marc Gasol (left hamstring tightness) missed his 13th straight game but was doing some work on the court before the game. “All of them are getting some work in, they’re just not ready for game activity,” coach Nick Nurse said of Gasol, Ibaka and VanVleet.

Nuggets: The 73 points in the first half tied their season high set seven days earlier. The 69 points allowed also tied a season high. … F Paul Millsap (right ankle) missed his 17th game this season. Millsap rolled his ankle at the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. … The team is expected to buy out the contract of guard Jordan McRae. Denver acquired McRae from Washington on Feb. 6 for Shabazz Napier.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Play at Phoenix on Tuesday night.

Nuggets: Host Golden State on Tuesday night.

Michael Kelly, The Associated Press