The madness of March descended on the Pepsi Center Sunday with playoff-like intensity between the Nuggets and Raptors.
When Nikola Jokic delivered a full-court pass to assist a Gary Harris layup late in the fourth, the arena erupted. Jokic earned his 12th triple-double of the season and Denver took down the defending NBA champions, 133-118. Eight Nuggets players scored in double-figures, and the team combined for a season-high 38 assists and 73 first-half points.
The Raptors, without injured centers Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Serge Ibaka (knee), were forced to play small ball — pitting undersized defenders against Jokic.