Westbrook scores 21 points, Jokic has a triple-double and the Nuggets beat the Raptors 121-119

Russell Westbrook scored 21 points and played smoring defense on final play of game, and Denver Nuggets beat Toronto Raptors 121-119 on Monday night.

Nikola Jokic h 28 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for his third triple-double in four games for Denver, which played without Jamal Murray (concussion protocol) and lost Aaron Gordon to a right calf strain in first quarter.

Nuggets trailed 109-98 with 5:45 left but rallied to take a 118-117 le on Peyton Watson’s 3-pointer. teams tred baskets and Julian Strawr split a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left.

That gave Toronto a chance but on final play Westbrook blanketed RJ Barrett, whose 26-footer to win it at horn was short.

Barrett finished with 18 points while Gry Dick h 26 and Jakob Poeltl scored 24.

Raptors: Help might be on way sooner than expected. Forward Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture) won’t need surgery at this point, according to coach Darko Rajakovic. Barnes has not played since home loss to Denver on Oct. 28

Nuggets: injuries have put more pressure on bench to come through. Swar has played well last few games and Hunter Tyson is making most of his opportunity.

Toronto led by six before Poeltl picked up his fifth and sixth fouls in a span of 23 seconds. Nuggets outscored Raptors 14-8 after Poeltl fouled out.

Jokic has three triple-doubles in last four games and missed a fourth by one rebound against Minnesota on Friday night. He also h seven turnovers against Toronto.

Raptors travel to Sacramento on Wednesday night while Nuggets host Oklahoma City for second time in two weeks.