Kawhi Leonard scores 29 but shorthanded Raptors suffer a nine-point loss to the Nuggets

Author Photo
jokic-leonard-plumlee-121618-ftr-nba-getty

Toronto (23-9) finishes its four-game Western Conference road trip at 2-2 after a loss to the Denver Nuggets (20-9) Sunday night.

While they both sit atop the standings in their respective conferences, each team is dealing with a multitude of injuries heading into the game – a total of 11 players were sidelined, including the Raptors Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet.

If you missed any of the action, check below for live score updates, highlights and stats from throughout the night

Toronto Raptors vs. Denver Nuggets

Preview |  Box Score | Play-by-play

Final: Nuggets 95, Raptors 86

10:30 p.m. –  Final stats:

raptors-nuggets-final-stats-121618-ftr-nba-getty

10:20 p.m. –  Kawhi Leonard's game-high 29 points aren't enough as the Raptors suffer a nine-point loss at the hands of the Nuggets

Denver was led by Nikola Jokic, who finished the night with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Canadian Jamal Murray scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Raptors, who only scored 14 points in the final frame.

Aside from Leonard, Delon Wright (15 points) and Serge Ibaka (14 points) were the only other Raptors to finish in double figures. It was a rough shooting night for Toronto, as it finished the night shooting under 40 percent from the field.

10:16 p.m. –  Serge Ibaka fouls out and is T'd up as he walks off the floor.

Jamal Murray hits the technical free throw for his 19th point of the night and the Nuggets are up 93-85.

10:14 p.m. –  Nikola Jokic scores in the lane to bring the Nuggets' lead back to seven points with less than two minutes left to play.

Timeout Raptors, as they trail 92-85 with 1:41 on the clock.

It's been a rough shooting quarter for Toronto, as it is 1-for-12 from deep in the fourth.

10:08 p.m. –  Despite having a rough quarter offensively, the Raptors have cut the deficit to five with under four minutes to play.

It's 86-81 Nuggets with 3:59 remaining in regulation. Timeout Toronto, who looks to make a few plays down the stretch to earn the win.

9:57 p.m. –  It's starting to unravel for Toronto, who has yet to score in the first 3:51 of the final frame.

The Nuggets have used a 23-2 run to get out to an eight-point lead with 8:09 remaining in regulation. Timeout Raptors.

9:50 p.m. –  The Raptors have missed their last nine shots from the field and the Nuggets open the quarter on a 7-0 run to take their first lead since the second quarter. It's an 18-2 run dating back to the 3:53 mark in the third quarter.

Timeout Toronto as Denver now leads 75-72 with 9:50 left.

End of Third Quarter: Raptors 72, Nuggets 68

9:46 p.m. –  The Nuggets outscore the Raptors 29-25 in the third frame to cut the deficit to four, closing the quarter on an 11-2 run.

Denver is led by Nikola Jokic, who has 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists through three quarters.

Kawhi Leonard leads all scorers with 23 points to go along with his 11 rebounds and three assists.

9:34 p.m. –  Like clockwork, the Raptors come out firing after the timeout to go on a 12-3 run.

Kawhi Leonard is scoring at all levels and now has 23 points and 10 rebounds on the night.


Toronto leads 70-57 with 3:53 remaining in the third.

9:27 p.m. –  Denver responds with a 9-2 run of its own to cut the deficit to four points.

Timeout Raptors.

Toronto leads 58-54 with 6:56 remaining in the quarter.

9:20 p.m. –  Kawhi Leonard's layup brings the Raptors lead back to double digits and Mike Malone calls for time less than three minutes into the half.

Leonard has 16 points and seven rebounds on the night and Toronto leads 56-45 with 9:32 remaining in the third.

9:17 p.m. –  A 3-pointer from   C.J. Miles opens the half and makes it a 14-0 run for the Raptors, who now lead 50-39.

Halftime: Raptors 47, Nuggets 39

9:05 p.m. –  The halftime stats show that rebounding and shooting from the field have been the difference through two quarters.

raptors-nuggets-halftime-stats-screengrab-121618

9:01 p.m. –  Yet another run, this time it's the Raptors.

Toronto closes the first half on an 11-0 run to take its biggest lead of the night into the half.

Kawhi Leonard (10 points, six rebounds) and Serge Ibaka (10 points, five rebounds) lead the way for the Raptors, who have also benefitted from the contributions of Delon Wright (eight points, five rebounds) and Danny Green (seven points).


Nikola Jokic's 10 points pace the Nuggets while Mason Plumlee added six points in the first half. Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig and Monte Morris have each scored five points for Denver through the first 24 minutes of action.

8:58 p.m. –  Sometimes Kawhi Leonard makes it look too easy.


 

8:55 p.m. –  The Raptors call for timeout with 3:06 remaining in the half and the Nuggets lead 39-36.

Nikola Jokic now leads all scorers with 10 points while the Raptors are led by seven points from Danny Green. 

8:48 p.m. –  Delon Wright with the smooth move and finish.


8:45 p.m. –  It's a game of runs.

The Nuggets respond to the Raptors 7-0 run with a 10-0 run of their own to take a 33-30 lead with 7:58 remaining in the half. Timeout Toronto.

8:40 p.m. –  The Raptors open the quarter on a 7-0 run through the first 1:40.


It's a 12-0 run going back to the end of the first quarter. Toronto has built a seven-point lead as its 30-23 with 10:20 left in the second.

End of First Quarter: Raptors 23, Nuggets 23

8:33 p.m. –  After 12 minutes we're right back where we started – knotted up at 23.

After beginning the game 0-for-5, Toronto closes the quarter shooting 9-for-14 from the field to tie things up.

The Raptors are led by Danny Green, who has seven points on 3-for-5 shooting including this transition finish.


The Nuggets are led by Torrey Craig and Malik Beasley who each have five points apiece.

8:27 p.m. –  BOOM! A Kawhi Leonard dunk ties things up at 18 and the Nuggets call for time with 2:54 remaining in the quarter.


Leonard has four points and four rebounds early on while Delon Wright has scored four points in his sixth career start.

The Nuggets are led by five points from Torrey Craig while Nikola Jokic has two points, two rebounds and two assists through nine minutes.

8:19 p.m –  At the first break in action the Nuggets hold a 9-8 lead over the Raptors with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Danny Green leads all scorers with five points while the Nuggets are led by four points from Mason Plumlee.

8:10 p.m. –  Torrey Craig gets the Nuggets on the board first and things are underway at the Pepsi Center.

Pregame

7:25 p.m. –  The Nuggets are starting Jamal Murray, Torrey Craig, Juancho Hernangomez, Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee.


7:00 p.m. –  In the absence of Lowry, Siakam and VanVleet, the Raptors will go with a starting lineup of Delon Wright, Danny Green, C.J. Miles, Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka.


Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.