Like a Wild West duel from long ago days, two NBA stars battled it out on Monday night.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and rising star Scottie Barnes went shot for shot until Barnes literally took a shot to the face late from Jokic, an elbow to the eye, forcing Toronto’s all-star to exit. Denver had scored at the other end against the short-handed Raptors to make it a two-point game and it was three after Toronto’s Ochai Agbaji split a pair of free throws.
A Jokic layup was followed by another Raptors free-throw split, this time by Davion Mitchell, giving the Nuggets one more shot to tie or win. Kitchener native Jamal Murray tied it in spectacular fashion with an air-reverse layup to force overtime. Murray had only hit five of his first 15 shots in the game, but saved the best for last.
Murray and Jokic then went on personal 10-2 runs to start the extra time. Toronto battled to within three and then two late, but RJ Barrett missed a three-pointer and Toronto couldn’t put back a couple of rebound attempts and the buzzer sounded. Previously winless Denver clawed out the 127-125 win.
A game after scoring 41 points, Jokic finished with 40, while Barnes had 21 points plus 12 rebounds, nine assists, five steals and one massive block.
Toronto was boosted by the season debut of RJ Barrett, who had been out since playing 14 minutes against Washington in the pre-season opener.
Barrett looked like he hadn’t missed a day, though, hitting a three-pointer before getting into the paint whenever he wanted. Barrett had 16 points heading into overtime and finished with 20.
His countryman Murray had 17 points, plus nine rebounds and seven assists.
Toronto started just 1-for-7 on three-pointers and 4-for-15 for the first half and struggled for much of the night from deep. Later, a huge first-half points-in-the-paint advantage evaporated. The missed free throws late cost them dearly, too.
Denver trailed for most of the game after the first quarter, but found a way to win.
Toronto was again without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley and reserves Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and Ja’Kobe Walter.