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Jamal Murray scores 31 points to help lift Nuggets past Raptors 121-115

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ont., scored 31 points, Nikola Jokic made a go-ahead jumper with 45 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets held on for a 121-115 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Jokic finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 23 points and shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range and Aaron Gordon added 16 points for the Nuggets, who improved to 8-8 since the All-Star break.

Jakob Poeltl scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Brandon Ingram added 19 points and R.J. Barrett had 18.

The Nuggets trailed 101-98 before Hardaway tied it with a 3-pointer with 7:27 remaining. Denver was up 115-110 with 1:43 left, but the Raptors got right back into it.

Scottie Barnes, who finished with 15 points, had a layup with 1:32 remaining. Poeltl three-point play on a layup and free throw after he was fouled by Jokic tied it at 115 with 60 seconds left.

But the Nuggets closed with a 6-0 run to seal the victory. Jokic had a turnaround jumper, Murray made three free throws and Gordon made one of his own to cap it.

Up next

Raptors: Play at Phoenix on Sunday night.

Nuggets: Host Portland on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Jamal Murray scores 31 points to help lift Nuggets past Raptors 121-115 | iNFOnews.ca
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front, is fouled as he goes up for a shot by Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, not visible, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jamal Murray scores 31 points to help lift Nuggets past Raptors 121-115 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, stops Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson as he tries to drive the baseline to the net in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jamal Murray scores 31 points to help lift Nuggets past Raptors 121-115 | iNFOnews.ca
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, and center Jakob Poeltl, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jamal Murray scores 31 points to help lift Nuggets past Raptors 121-115 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, works against Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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