The Denver Nuggets produced a balanced and physical performance to defeat the Toronto Raptors 128-109 on November 5, 2026, at Ball Arena. Denver controlled the paint, moved the ball sharply, and pulled away in the third quarter to secure a comfortable National Basketball Association victory.

Game overview

Nikola Jokić orchestrated the Nuggets’ offense with another triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jamal Murray added 24 points and six assists, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points on efficient shooting. Denver shot 51.8% from the field and scored 58 points in the paint, consistently forcing Toronto into help rotations.

The Raptors stayed competitive early behind Scottie Barnes, who led Toronto with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. RJ Barrett added 20 points, and Immanuel Quickley scored 15, but Toronto’s offense stalled for long stretches in the second half. The Raptors finished with 17 turnovers, which Denver converted into 24 points.

Key moments

The Nuggets seized control with an 18-4 run late in the second quarter, turning a one-possession game into a double-digit halftime lead. Toronto briefly threatened in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to eight behind consecutive three-pointers from Quickley and Barrett, but Denver answered with a 12-0 burst capped by a Murray transition layup.

From there, the Nuggets never allowed the Raptors within single digits. Denver’s bench extended the lead early in the fourth, and Jokić returned to close the game with precise passing out of the high post.

Tactical story

Denver’s half-court offense revolved around Jokić’s dribble-handoff actions and quick post touches. The Nuggets repeatedly attacked Toronto’s weak-side rotations, creating open corner threes and second-chance opportunities. Denver grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and held a 52-40 advantage on the glass.

Toronto tried to speed the game up with transition attacks, but the Raptors struggled to finish through Denver’s length at the rim. When Toronto’s half-court possessions slowed, the offense leaned heavily on Barnes’ isolation scoring. That approach produced enough individual numbers but not enough sustained pressure against a Denver defense that tightened in the second half.

Standout performers

• Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: 26 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists — controlled the tempo and punished every Toronto double-team.
• Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 24 points, six assists — provided timely shot-making in the third-quarter run.
• Scottie Barnes, Raptors: 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists — Toronto’s most consistent offensive threat.
• Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets: 19 points, seven rebounds — stretched the floor and attacked closeouts.

Season impact

The result lifted Denver to 6-2 on the season and reinforced its home-court strength. For Toronto, the loss dropped the Raptors to 3-5 on a difficult early-season road swing. Denver’s ability to generate offense through Jokić while getting secondary scoring from Murray and Porter remains the central story of its strong start.