TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 27 points and the Toronto Raptors routed the Denver Nuggets 135-111 on Wednesday night to break a nine-game losing streak.
Toronto built a 24-point lead in the first half and shot 50% (24 of 48) on 3-pointers overall to win for the first time since Feb. 26.
OG Anunoby scored 18 of his 23 points before halftime for the Raptors. Norman Powell added 22 points and Fred VanVleet had 19.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray scored 20 points apiece for Denver, which lost for only the third time in 12 games. Michael Porter Jr. added 19 points and eight rebounds.
The Raptors made their first five 3s, two during an early 8-0 run that put them ahead for good.
Denver went scoreless for more than three minutes of the second quarter as Paul Watson Jr. and Anunoby hit 3-pointers in a 12-0 run. Toronto led 67-43 when Siakam drove for a layup with 2:34 left in the first half.
The Nuggets never got the margin under 15 in the second half. A trio of 3s by Watson in the fourth quarter helped the Raptors stretch their lead to 35.
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1of17Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrates a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less2of17Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrates with forward Pascal Siakam (43) as the pair is taken out of the game against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
3of174of17Denver Nuggets center Bol Bol (10) drives up the court against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less5of17Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) moves the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
6of177of17Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) looks to pass around Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less8of17Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) shoots over Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
9of1710of17Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) drives around Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) and guard R.J. Hampton (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less11of17Toronto Raptors forward Norman Powell (24) blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
12of1713of17Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) shakes hands with Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) before the start of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Lowry has been the subject of trade rumors.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less14of17Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) slam dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
15of1716of17Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.Chris O'Meara/APShow MoreShow Less
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TIP-INS
Nuggets: Had tied a franchise record with their sixth straight road win Tuesday night in Orlando. ... G Monte Morris missed his seventh game with a quadriceps injury.
Raptors: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment used the first all-female broadcast crew in NBA history, with The Sports Network's Kate Beirness and Amy Audibert serving as studio hosts. Meghan McPeak did the play-by-play, Kia Nurse was the analyst and Kayla Gray gave the sideline reports. ... Raptors coach Nick Nurse downplayed reports of a shouting match with Siakam after Sunday night's loss at Cleveland, and said reports of a $50,000 fine were inaccurate. ... The nine-game losing streak was Toronto's longest in 10 years.
