The Denver Nuggets defeated the Toronto Raptors 128-109 at Ball Arena on Wednesday night, improving to 4-3 behind a triple-double from Nikola Jokic and a career-high 18 points from rookie Bryce Hopkins, Sports Illustrated reported.
Sports Illustrated reported that Denver bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Portland Trail Blazers by defending home court against the Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors. The victory marked the Nuggets’ first win against a team with a winning record this season and offered a measure of hope to a fanbase that had watched the team start 3-3. Denver shot 62% from the field despite making just nine three-pointers, per Sports Illustrated.
Raptors lead Nuggets 67-64 at half. Raps were up by as much as 10 but Nuggets close with 13-5 run to get back. Barrett w 17, Barnes 13, IQ 10 and CMB 11. Jokic w 17/7/6. Murray with three points and 5 assists.
How did Nikola Jokic silence the doubters?
After a slow start to the season that sparked conversation around the league about whether his prime was winding down, Jokic delivered 32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals on 13-of-19 shooting, according to Sports Illustrated. The performance marked his most efficient shooting night of the season and his third triple-double in seven games. Notably, he shot just 0-for-1 from three-point range after connecting on only 22.6% of his deep attempts in his first six games, suggesting he found his rhythm by attacking the paint rather than settling. NBA.com reported that Jokic now sits just eight triple-doubles behind Russell Westbrook for the NBA’s all-time lead. Fox News noted that with Jokic and a healthy Jamal Murray, Denver maintains a legitimate scoring threat that frees up the three-time MVP to operate at peak efficiency, with Murray capable of becoming unguardable when on a heater.
Who stepped up when DeMar DeRozan was ruled out?
Minutes before tip-off, the Nuggets ruled out sixth man DeMar DeRozan due to back spasms, Sports Illustrated reported, throwing a wrench into the expected rotation and forcing the team to turn to second-round rookie Bryce Hopkins. Hopkins responded with a career-high 18 points and four rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-of-7 from the field and 1-for-1 from deep. NBA.com added that Hopkins grabbed eight rebounds, recorded two steals, and reached the free-throw line four separate times in just his fifth NBA game, using physical drives to the rim. Sports Illustrated noted that Hopkins has impressed alongside co-rookie Trevon Brazile, whom the team views as one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NBA Draft. The Associated Press, via Fox Sports, listed additional absences for Denver, including Spencer Jones (hamstring) and Julian Strawther (knee), while Toronto was without Kawhi Leonard (knee), Nate Bittle (foot), and Jakob Poeltl (shoulder).
201 CAREER TRIPLE-DOUBLES FOR JOKER! Jokić has now completed 90 of them before the 4Q even begins… nearly 45% of his career total 🤯 32p, 10r, 11a and 3s in the W vs. Toronto! pic.twitter.com/eDaBWRBAIu
Can the Nuggets win without elite three-point shooting?
Denver made just 9-of-23 from three-point range, Sports Illustrated reported, a major concern for a team that led the NBA in three-point percentage last season. Yet the Nuggets still secured the victory by shooting 62% from the field overall. Cameron Johnson led the team from deep with four three-pointers, while Jamal Murray added two. NBA.com provided further detail, noting the Nuggets shot 61.5% from the field, 39.1% from three, and 85.2% from the free-throw line, calling it the most efficient game of coach Adelman’s era. Christian Braun contributed 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and anchored the defense in the second half, helping limit Toronto to just 17 third-quarter points, per NBA.com.
What did predictive models and betting markets project for this matchup?
ATS.io‘s model assigned the Nuggets a 67.5% win probability with a projected final score of 116-112 and a model confidence rating of 65/100, recommending the Denver moneyline as the cleaner value play. The model noted that Toronto entered with the top defensive efficiency mark in its data set, allowing just 102.5 points per game, while Denver ranked 18th on offense and 19th on defense. Fox News reported that the betting line favored the Nuggets -4.5, with analysts noting that Toronto’s ceiling is significantly lower without Leonard available to contain Jokic. Fox Sports cited season statistics showing Denver finished 54-28 with a 28-13 home record in 2025-26, while Toronto went 46-36 overall with a 22-19 road mark and allowed 111.8 points per game.
What does this victory mean for Denver’s playoff trajectory?
Sports Illustrated emphasized that the win gave the Nuggets their first victory against a winning-record opponent and signaled that the team is a much better unit when Jokic plays at his best. With Jokic anchoring the offense and rookie Bryce Hopkins contributing 18 points off the bench, the Nuggets secured a 128-109 victory over the Raptors. NBA.com reported that Denver’s bench outscored Toronto’s reserves 42-36, with Aaron Gordon adding 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, Tyus Jones dishing eight assists, and Marvin Bagley III scoring 10 points. Fox News pointed out that the Nuggets have addressed depth concerns since their 2023 championship, with contributors like Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, and Aaron Gordon complementing the Jokic-Murray core. The victory suggests the championship window remains partially open with Jokic still leading the team.
Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
Jokic in the 3rd: 15 points, 5 assists, 6-8 FG Raptors in the 3rd: 15 points, 2 assists, 5-23 FG Disastrous quarter. Raps shot 22% (1-9 3P), committed 6 turnovers, let the Nuggets shoot 68% and were outscored 41-15. Toronto's 3-point halftime lead is now a 23-point deficit. Woof
More on Nuggets
Jokic on pace for a 30+ point triple-double with 17-6-6. But not to be outdone… Barnes: 13-3-4 with 3 steals. Raptors have 4 double figure scorers. 20 assists on 26 FG. 9-for-19 from deep with 6 different players hitting at least 1 3-ball. Beautiful O and a fun half. Raps by 3
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