Jokic triple-double (32 points) powers Denver past Toronto 128-109

Nikola Jokic filled the stat sheet in 30 minutes, with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, as the Denver Nuggets came from behind to beat the Toronto Raptors 128-109 on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at Ball Arena, in front of 19,520 spectators. The game turned in a third quarter won 41-15 by the Nuggets, after Toronto had led at the break.

Denver played without DeMar DeRozan (back), Spencer Jones (hamstring) and Julian Strawther (knee), all ruled out on the injury report. Toronto were missing Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Nate Bittle (foot). The Nuggets move to 4-3, ninth in the Western Conference; the Raptors fall back to 4-4, fifth in the Eastern Conference. Denver built a 26-point margin in the third quarter, trimmed to 19 points by the seven points they gave up cumulatively over the other three periods.

Toronto build a ten-point lead before the break

The visitors owned the start of the game. Trailing 0-2, the Raptors went on an 8-0 run with 11 min 13 s left in the first quarter and moved ahead 8-2. Toronto closed the period in front, 35-33.

The second quarter gave Toronto their best spell. With 6 min 15 s left before the break, the Raptors led 50-49. A 9-0 run stretched the gap to ten points, 59-49, with 4 min 38 s to play, Toronto's biggest lead of the night. Denver closed the gap before the interval and went into the locker room three points down, 67-64, after losing the second quarter 32-31.

A 41-15 run after the break shuts the game down

The swing came in a single period. With 10 min 49 s left in the third quarter, Denver were still three points behind, at 66-69. The Nuggets reeled off a 10-0 run to go ahead, 76-69, the second and last lead change of the night. At 4 min 20 s, an 8-0 run turned 84-78 into 92-78, then a 9-0 burst, started at 2 min 04 s, widened the gap again, from 94-81 to 103-81.

The Raptors managed only 15 points in the period against 41 for Denver, who went into the final quarter at 105-82. The lead reached 27 points, 109-82, with 11 min 05 s to play, the biggest margin of the game. Toronto won the fourth quarter 27-23, to no effect on the outcome.

Denver's supporting cast

Jokic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in 30 minutes. He made 13 of 19 shots and 6 of 7 free throws, with a plus-minus of +25. Bryce Hopkins was the first man up off the bench: 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting and 4 rebounds in 28 minutes. Aaron Gordon added 17 points on 7 of 9, Jamal Murray 14 points and 7 assists, Cameron Johnson 12 points with 4 of 8 from three, and Christian Braun 11 points on 4 of 5 for a plus-minus of +22.

Marvin Bagley III added 10 points in 14 minutes off the bench. As a team, Denver made 48 of 78 shots, or 62%, and dished out 35 assists. The Nuggets scored 76 points in the paint to 46, pulled down 36 rebounds to 28 and converted 23 of 27 free throws.

Toronto lasted a half, but couldn't hold on to the ball

RJ Barrett finished as the Raptors' top scorer with 22 points on 7 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 7 from three, without a turnover in 33 minutes. Scottie Barnes added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but also 5 turnovers and a plus-minus of -23. Immanuel Quickley handed out 7 assists to go with 13 points, shooting 2 of 8 from long range, with the worst plus-minus of the game, -29. Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 13 points on 6 of 10 and Ja'Kobe Walter 8 points on 1 of 6 from deep.

Toronto shot 49%, 41 of 84. The Raptors turned the ball over 16 times, costing them 24 points, against 15 points conceded by Denver. They also lost the rebounding battle, 28 to 36, and converted only 15 of 22 free throws.

Three takeaways

The third quarter decided everything. Toronto won three of the four periods, 35-33, 32-31 and 27-23. Denver took the third 41-15, a 26-point swing in twelve minutes, seven more than the final margin.

Jokic set up his team-mates as much as he scored. His 11 assists fed an offence that produced 35 assists on 48 baskets. Seven Denver players reached at least 10 points, the five starters plus Hopkins and Bagley off the bench.

Toronto lost the paint. Denver scored 76 points near the rim, against 46 for the Raptors. That 30-point gap in a single area exceeds the final margin of 19 points.

The SNA view

This win was decided over twelve minutes. Denver built the gap in the third quarter, after a first half led by Toronto. The Raptors had opened with an 8-0 run, then a 9-0 run to lead by ten points at 59-49. After the break, Denver strung together a 10-0, an 8-0 and a 9-0, and Toronto scored just 15 points in the period. The Nuggets shot 62% and handed out 35 assists; the Raptors turned the ball over 16 times, costing them 24 points. Jokic notched his triple-double in 30 minutes. For Toronto, Barrett scored 22 points without a turnover, but Barnes gave the ball away 5 times and Quickley finished at -29.

What's next

Denver, at 4-3 and ninth in the Western Conference, lead the season series 1-0 against Toronto. The Nuggets travel to Indiana on Saturday 7 November. The Raptors, at 4-4 and fifth in the Eastern Conference, play at Milwaukee on Friday 6 November.