Murray's Masterclass: Raptors Can't Stop Denver's Late Surge
Look, Friday night in Toronto was a tough one for the home team. The Raptors, playing without Jakob Poeltl, fought hard. They really did. But Jamal Murray, back in his hometown, decided he wasn't losing this one. The guy dropped 31 points, and it felt like every single one of them was clutch as the Nuggets squeaked out a 121-115 win.
Thing is, Toronto had plenty of chances. Scottie Barnes, who finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds, was absolutely everywhere. He was driving, he was hitting tough shots, he was trying to put the team on his back. RJ Barrett added 26 points, too. They were trading blows with the defending champs for four quarters, even leading for a good chunk of the third. You can't fault their effort, especially after losing their starting center to an ankle sprain earlier in the week.
The Details
But when it came down to winning time, Denver just had more answers. The score was tied at 115 with under a minute to play. That's when Nikola Jokic, who had a relatively quiet 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists by his standards, calmly hit a turnaround jumper over Immanuel Quickley. That shot put the Nuggets up 117-115 with 45 seconds left. It wasn't flashy, but it was pure Jokic – efficient, precise, and utterly deflating for the opposition. Murray then sealed it with a pair of free throws after being fouled, extending the lead to four.
Here's the real issue for the Raptors: they can’t seem to close out these tight games against elite teams. They’ve shown flashes, like their impressive road win against the Miami Heat back in January where Barnes hit the game-winner. But against top-tier talent, when the pressure ramps up, they often fall just short. Their 27-48 record tells part of that story, but the recurring theme of late-game collapses is more telling. They shot 46.2% from the field against Denver, which isn't terrible, but 10 turnovers in the second half hurt them badly when every possession counted.
And honestly, the Raptors’ defense in those crucial final minutes against Murray and Jokic was simply not good enough. They had no answer for Murray's drives, and when Jokic decided it was time to score, he did. You can't let a team with that kind of firepower walk into your building and hit contested shots with ease. It's a reflection of a team still finding its identity post-Pascal Siakam. They're trying, but the consistency just isn't there yet on the defensive end, especially in crunch time.
Breaking It Down
My hot take? Unless Toronto finds a legitimate rim protector and a consistent third scoring option this offseason, they’re stuck in this middle-of-the-pack purgatory. They have good pieces in Barnes and Barrett, but they’re still missing that one or two elements that turn competitive losses into wins. They need to find a way to finish, or nights like Friday will keep happening.
I predict the Nuggets, fresh off this road win, will secure the top seed in the Western Conference. They're just too deep, too smart, and too clutch.