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Shorthanded Nuggets topple NBA-best Raptors
LOS ANGELES, Dec 17, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Jamal Murray scored 15 points in the
final quarter as the shorthanded Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Toronto
Raptors 95-86 Sunday in a battle between the league’s East and West
conference leaders.
Nikola Jokic tallied 26 points and Murray finished with 19 for the
Nuggets, who posted their 10th win in 12 games and maintain a slim lead over
Golden State in the Western Conference.
Denver improved to 20-9 on the season by going on a 23-2 run after falling
behind 70-57 in the third quarter.
This marks the latest the Nuggets have been in first place in the West
since December 1984.
Kawhi Leonard had 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-
leading Raptors.
Toronto won two of four games on their recent road trip and still have the
NBA best record of 23-9.
The Nuggets didn’t have Will Barton (right hip surgery), Gary Harris (hip)
and Paul Millsap (big toe) in the lineup.
The Raptors were also missing several players including Kyle Lowry (thigh
injury) and Jonas Valanciunas (thumb).
Elsewhere, Ben Simmons delivered his third triple-double of the season and
Jimmy Butler returned from an injury to score 19 points as the Philadelphia
76ers rolled over the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-105.
Simmons finished with 22 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds and Joel
Embiid tallied 24 as the Sixers rallied from a second quarter deficit to lead
65-58 at the half.
“Ben is doing what he always does for us, passing the ball,” Butler said.
“When he’s playing like that, the game is really easy for everybody.”
Philadelphia had lost both games without Butler, who injured his groin in
the first quarter Monday against Detroit. Philadelphia won that game, but
then followed up by losing to Brooklyn and Indiana.
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“Having Jimmy back helped because we had multiple guys that could put it
away,” Simmons said. “I just do what I can offensively and help find guys who
are scoring. Numbers are numbers. Obviously, stat-wise, it looks good.”
Landry Shamet added 16 points for Philadelphia, J.J. Redick had 14 points
and Wilson Chandler 11.
Cedi Osman and Jordan Clarkson each scored 18 points for Cleveland. Rodney
Hood and Matthew Dellavedova each had 13 points, and rookie point guard
Collin Sexton added 12.
The Cavaliers led 44-34 early in the second quarter, but Philadelphia
ended the first half on a 31-14 run.
Cleveland went on a 12-0 run in the third quarter to cut the Sixers lead
to 86-85.
But that is as close as they would get as Wilson Chandler’s three pointer
as time ran out in the third helped spark a game-deciding run that stretched
into the fourth by Philadelphia.
Also, John Wall was at his attacking best as the Washington Wizards easily
rolled over the Los Angeles Lakers 128-110.
– Blowout laugher –
While Wall finished with 40 points and 14 assists, Lakers star LeBron
James could only muster a season-low 13 points on dismal five-of-16 shooting.
“We’re a team that’s built on energy and depth,” four-time league MVP
James said. “We didn’t have either tonight.”
A day after he and Lonzo Ball each registered a triple-double in a win at
Charlotte, James had six rebounds and three assists and sat out the fourth
quarter.
Recently acquired forward Sam Dekker scored a season-high 20 for
Washington, including a buzzer-beating shot at the end of the third quarter
that put the Wizards up 99-76.
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