Denver Nuggets close Ball Arena fourth quarter as Toronto Raptors surge in the third

The Denver Nuggets moved to 43-28 after a 121-115 result over the Toronto Raptors, who fell to 39-30 at Ball Arena at 9:00 PM EDT. The Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors match summary starts with Denver scoring 121 behind 54 percent shooting and 47 percent from 3-point range, while the Raptors finished with 115 on 51 percent shooting and 74 percent at the line.

First quarter

The Denver Nuggets opened with 27 points while the Toronto Raptors put up 30 points to take the early edge. The Raptors generated 32 assists in the game and set a tone in the quarter with ball movement that helped them reach 50 points in the paint by night’s end.

Second quarter

The Denver Nuggets answered with 30 points in the second quarter as the Raptors scored 23, flipping the game toward the Nugs before halftime. Denver’s 14 made 3-pointers and 26 assists showed up in this stretch, and the home side stayed connected on the glass on the way to 47 rebounds.

Third quarter

The Raptors delivered their biggest push with 41 points in the third quarter while the Nuggets scored 28, creating one of the Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors key moments as Toronto grabbed momentum. Toronto’s 18 fast break points and 8 steals fueled that run, and its 11 offensive rebounds helped it extend possessions.

Fourth quarter

The Denver Nuggets closed with 36 points in the fourth quarter while the Raptors managed 21, producing the game-changing plays Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors with Denver’s late shot-making and second-chance work. Denver finished with 16 second chance points and hit 76 percent at the line, and the Raptors were held to 32 percent on 3-pointers while Denver posted a 66 percent true shooting mark.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 31 points and 6 assists in the previous game, and that creation matched Denver’s ability to get to 25 free throw attempts in this one. Nikola Jokić posted 22 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds in the previous game, and Denver’s offense again reflected a playmaking center by producing 26 assists against 10 turnovers. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 23 points in the previous game, and Denver’s perimeter output aligned with a 63 percent effective field goal rate in this matchup.

Toronto’s profile was built on pace and creation, and the Raptors finished with 10 turnovers and 15 points off turnovers in support of their third-quarter surge. Denver countered with 35 bench points and 12 fast break points, and the Nuggets matched Toronto with 10 turnovers while keeping the finishing edge at 121-115, which frames Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors final thoughts.

The Denver Nuggets will host the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on 3/22/2026 at 5:00 PM EDT, with coverage on KUNP, ALT, and NBA TV. Catch the broadcast, and share this article with other Nuggets fans looking for a clean recap.