When the Denver Nuggets play the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, they will end a three-game losing streak.
The Nuggets lost 122-120 to the Brooklyn Nets at home on Sunday, despite Nikola Jokic’s 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists. Now, the Nuggets will play five games, starting in Toronto.
After their third loss in a row, the Raptors are entering a phase that will determine whether they are in the playoffs or a play-in situation, despite the fact that the Nuggets are still five games ahead of the Western Conference.
The Raptors are coming off a 122-112 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, ending a four-game road trip that included three defeats in a row.
The trip included a March 6 defeat at Denver, 118-113.
The Raptors held the second-to-last play-in spot in a competitive race when they entered Monday’s game ninth in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby scored 31 points. Since February 6, 2012, Toronto had not lost a game in which two players scored 30 or more points.
After Denver trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter, Jokic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game on Sunday.
Denver’s Jamal Murray had 16 points, but he didn’t play in the fourth quarter because his left knee hurt. He is listed as doubtful for the game on Tuesday.
Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. scored another 23 points. Christian Braun, who did not play until the fourth quarter, scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds, provided one assist, and blocked one shot to help start the rally.
After the Nuggets were outscored 37-18 in the third quarter, he played 11:39 of the fourth quarter to help Denver outpace Brooklyn 33-24.
