Murray scores 24 points, Nuggets rally past Raptors 118-113

© Provided by The Associated Press Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, looks to pass the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 24 points, Michael Porter Jr. had 20 and the Denver Nuggets scored the last six points of the game to pull out a 118-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

© Provided by The Associated Press Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson, front, pursues a loose ball with Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet in the first half of an NBA basketball game,Monday, March 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Aaron Gordon added 19 points for the Nuggets, who won their ninth in a row at home. They improved to 24-1 in their last 25 games at Ball Arena. Nikola Jokic finished an assist shy of another triple-double. He had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Fred VanVleet had 21 points for the Raptors. Pascal Siakam added 19.

Siakam’s jumper with 2:20 remaining gave the Raptors a six-point edge, but the Nuggets rattled off seven straight points to go up 112-111 with 1:15 left.

© Provided by The Associated Press Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. dunks for a basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

VanVleet hit a pair of free throws as Toronto regained a one-point lead, but Denver scored the final six points, all on free throws, to secure the win. Murray converted a free throw in that final stretch after Scottie Barnes was called for a technical and ejected by referee Scott Foster.

The Raptors led by as many as 10 points in the first half but Denver closed the second quarter with a 7-0 run to pull to 61-58 at the break. The burst included a 3-pointer by Porter and a dunk by Gordon off Jokic’s alley-oop pass in the final minute of the period.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, left, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Murray scored 12 points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer midway through the period that put the Nuggets up 72-69 for their first lead of the game. But the Raptors fought back to take an 88-83 lead into the fourth quarter and led 101-93 when Siakam converted a hook shot with 7:08 left to play.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. heads off the court after the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

TIP-INS

Raptors: All five starters scored in double figures, the fifth time that has happened this season.

Nuggets: F Zeke Nnaji remains sidelined indefinitely by a right shoulder injury. … The Nuggets are a league-best 30-4 at home this season.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Continue their five-game road trip Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

Nuggets: Close out a three-game homestand Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports