The Toronto Raptors suffered their third consecutive loss after falling to the Denver Nuggets, 133-118, on Monday at Pepsi Center.
The Raptors kept it interesting through the first three-and-half quarters but the home team pulled away in the final five minutes of the game. The Nuggets capitalized on Toronto’s lack of interior presence as they outmuscled the Raptors in the battle for the boards, 41-36, and outgunned them from the rainbow territory with 18 triples made.
Nikola Jokic recorded a monster triple-double game with 23 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray tallied 22 points. Six more Nuggets players scored in double figures, giving the home team a balanced offensive attack against the Raptors.
But we’re here to grade the top-5 performing Raptors of the night. And here it goes.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (C+)
RHJ played within his role of stopping the opposing team’s best perimeter player. Sadly, he still failed to contain the Nuggets’ wingmen as Jeremi Grant and Gary Harris lit him up with 16 and 15 points, respectively. He recorded 9 points on 3-for-6 shooting with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in under 25 minutes.
Raptors starting "center" Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is giving up half a foot and ~40 pounds on Nikola Jokic, who he's matched up with to open tonight's game.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 1, 2020
Pascal Siakam (B-)
Siakam had another cold shooting night as he finished with 16 points on 6-for-21 shooting and 1-for-7 from the three-point line. Although he still stuffed the stats sheet with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, he was just -13 on the floor – a bad sign for any go-to-guy.
Contact?
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 1, 2020
No problem pic.twitter.com/gEKruxhDcT
Kyle Lowry (B-)
Lowry recorded a pedestrian 17 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in this game yet his efficiency rating was way off the mark after shooting just 4-for-14 on the floor and a miserable 2-for-10 shooting from the three-point range. He was also -9 on +/- scale.
Same. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/rMNalejDjX
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 1, 2020
Norman Powell (B)
While Powell also had a bad 3pt shooting night at 1-for-6 shooting, he still put up 24 points and 6 rebounds in 40 minutes as a replacement to injured guard Fred VanVleet. Unfortunately, the move to play Powell with the starters compromised the second unit, who just contributed 20 points in the game.
📸 | Views thru 3 pic.twitter.com/mwYGKgblS9
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 2, 2020
OG Anunoby (A)
The third-year swingman is proving each game that he’s worthy contender for Most Improved Player of the Year. He just recorded 32 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 steals while shooting at an efficient clip (12-for-15 FG/3-for-6 3PT/5-for-5 FT). It’s going to be fascinating to watch how Anunoby would make an impact in the Raptors’ upcoming playoff campaign after sitting out for most of the Raptors’ title run last year due to an appendectomy.
OG puttin' on a show pic.twitter.com/V9pIx5kYYI
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 2, 2020
