Back-to-back after beating the Suns in Phoenix, the Raptors were tackling another big chunk: the Nuggets in Denver. Without Fred VanVleet, back from injury and saved, the Canadians relied on a very hot Pascal Siakam at the start of the match, who scored 12 points (4/7 shooting) in the first quarter. Nikola Jokic holds the house (10 points at 5/6 shooting, 3 assists and 2 rebounds) but the aggressiveness of Toronto is already hurting.
By alternating defenses, including a lot of “zone”, the Raptors try to disrupt the Nuggets’ offensive setup around the Joker. They therefore cause a lot of ball losses that they convert as much as possible on the counter-attack, or throw themselves into the offensive rebound to catch up with any failures.
At halftime, Toronto is therefore slightly ahead (63-65) but Denver seems to take control in the third quarter, when Nikola Jokic finally receives the support of Will Barton.
The Nuggets take up to 8 points ahead (104-96) at the start of the fourth quarter, thanks in particular to the baskets of Bones Hyland, but the result will be much more complicated for the troop of Colorado. Physically blunted, the Rockies’ players gradually gave in to the Canadian onslaught, which pounded favorable matchups and collected a ton of precious offensive rebounds. It was Scottie Barnes who played the “go-to-guy” at the end of the match, while Chris Boucher and Khem Birch were the crumb collectors, and Toronto therefore won a second benchmark success (115-127) in its “road -trip” to the West.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Toronto’s 61 points on offensive rebounds and stray shots. The Raptors returned a correct 12/31 (39%) from 3-pointers thanks to an unexpected hot shot from Precious Achiuwa (4/6) but Toronto lacks a shot, especially when Gary Trent Jr. is so clumsy. The Canadians compensate with their activity on the passing lines and their energy on the rebound. They thus took 23 offensive rebounds and caused 19 loss of ball, to register almost half of their points (61) following these adverse errors.
– The experiments of mad scientist Nick Nurse. As we know, the Toronto coach is not afraid to test things. In the absence of Fred VanVleet and when Denver seemed to take control, he thus started the fourth quarter with a very strange five: Scottie Barnes, Dalano Banton, Khem Birch, Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young. But it worked as this group overturned the game with a 20-7 in six minutes.
– Denver in lack of gas in the “money time”. Against the Warriors in the previous game, the Nuggets had already cracked in the last quarter, seeming to run out of juice. Rebelote against the Raptors, with only 16 points scored in the final period, Toronto having taken the upper hand physically… and mentally.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Scottie Barnes. The rookie just misses the triple-double (25 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) but he weighed the whole game, and especially at the end of the game when he was transformed into a “go-to-guy” to attack the duels favorable, scoring or attracting Nikola Jokic for help… by causing offensive rebounds.
✅ Chris Boucher and the Toronto substitutes. Dalano Banton, Khem Birch and Thaddeus Young were invaluable but it is undoubtedly Chris Boucher (21 points, 4 blocks and 13 rebounds, including 9 offensive) who best illustrates the impact of the Toronto bench in this meeting, whose size has unsettled the Nuggets.
✅ Bones Hyland. While Nikola Jokic looked for support without Aaron Gordon, Bones Hyland long seemed to be the spark with 17 points and 7 assists in 19 minutes. But Mike Malone preferred to finish the game with Monte Morris as the Raptors regained control in the fourth quarter.
⛔ Gary Trent Jr. After his 42 points in Phoenix, the back continues with 8 points at 2/13 including 1/6 from afar. It’s the Raptors’ shooting tool, but it’s still fluctuating.
THE FOLLOWING
Toronto (37-30): the Raptors continue their “road trip” in the West against the Lakers, Monday evening
Denver (40-28): the Nuggets will try to revive in Philadelphia on Monday night
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