Jokic scores 40 to lead Nuggets past Raptors for first win of season

TORONTO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Nikola Jokic scored 40 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to help the Denver Nuggets outlast the Toronto Raptors 127-125 in overtime on Monday.

The reigning Most Valuable Player notched his second consecutive game of 40 points or more for the first time in his career. Two days ago, the 29-year-old Serbian native scored 41 in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Clippers, where he netted a career-best seven 3-pointers.

Denver trailed by as many as 15 points in the middle of the third quarter and were down 111-101 in the final two minutes of regulation.

The Nuggets rallied to close the game on a 13-3 run, capped by a clutch reverse layup from guard Jamal Murray with 0.3 seconds left to tie the game at 114 and send it to overtime.

"What I was most proud of is the way we finished regulation," said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone after the win. "It shows that guys never quit, kept on fighting, kept on competing, kept on believing in themselves and in their teammates."

Murray and Jokic continued their scoring barrage in the overtime period, leading a 10-2 run to effectively put the game out of reach. Murray finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Teammate Aaron Gordon had a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.

"It feels great to get a win after losing the first two at home," said Malone. "Obviously, a ton of things that we can clean up in the game, but importantly (we got our) first win of the year."

After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinal last season, Malone is hoping the team can return to the NBA Finals after capturing their first-ever NBA championship two seasons ago. ■