Peyton Watson’s Breakout Leads Injury-Riddled Nuggets to Thrilling 106-103 Victory Over Raptors Without Jokic

On New Year’s Eve 2025, in a packed Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Denver Nuggets pulled off what many considered a near-impossible feat: defeating the Toronto Raptors 106-103 without their superstar center and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The game was a testament to resilience, depth, and clutch performance under pressure, as a severely shorthanded Nuggets squad held off a late surge from the Raptors, culminating in a dramatic buzzer-beater review that sealed the win.

Peyton Watson, the young forward stepping into a larger role amid Denver’s injury crisis, exploded for a team-high 24 points, showcasing aggressive drives, timely scoring, and defensive tenacity. Alongside Jamal Murray’s steady 21 points, Watson’s performance was the spark that kept the Nuggets afloat in a game where they were outmatched in talent on paper but superior in heart.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Denver, improving their record to 23-10, while dropping the Raptors to 20-15 and halting their brief winning run. More importantly, it marked Denver’s first win without Jokic this season, breaking a historical trend of struggles in his absence (13-23 over the last five seasons).

The Injury Backdrop: A Nuggets Team on the Brink

The context of this game cannot be overstated. Nikola Jokic, the engine of the Nuggets’ offense and one of the league’s most dominant players, suffered a hyperextended left knee in a loss to Miami two days prior. He is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks pending reevaluation. Denver was already missing key starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and Cam Johnson (knee).

As if that weren’t enough, backup center Jonas Valanciunas—a former Raptor himself—went down with a strained right calf late in the third quarter after a strong performance (17 points, 9 rebounds in just 23 minutes). This left the Nuggets relying on rookies and bench players like DaRon Holmes II (11 points) and Jalen Pickett (10 points) to fill massive voids.

Despite playing with essentially a seven- or eight-man rotation, the Nuggets showed remarkable grit, especially on the road against a healthy and talented Raptors squad.

Jamal Murray, often the secondary star behind Jokic, rose to the occasion with 21 points and key plays down the stretch, including a crucial layup that helped maintain the lead in the final minutes.

Game Breakdown: A Tale of Quarters and Comebacks

The Nuggets started strong, jumping out to a 32-23 lead after the first quarter behind hot shooting and aggressive defense. They extended the advantage in the second, entering halftime up 63-54.

The third quarter saw Toronto mount a comeback, outscoring Denver 25-22, fueled by strong play from their core. The fourth quarter was a nail-biter, with the Raptors chipping away and briefly taking leads during runs.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scores:

• Q1: Nuggets 32, Raptors 23
• Q2: Nuggets 31, Raptors 31 (Halftime: 63-54 Nuggets)
• Q3: Nuggets 22, Raptors 25 (End of Q3: 85-79 Nuggets)
• Q4: Nuggets 21, Raptors 24 (Final: 106-103 Nuggets)

Denver’s offense struggled in the second half, shooting a dismal 28.2% from the field, but their defense and timely buckets proved enough. The Raptors, despite attempting 20 more field goals (37-of-100 overall), couldn’t capitalize fully.

Standout Performances: Watson Shines, Raptors’ Stars Battle Valiantly

Peyton Watson’s 24 points came on efficient scoring, including drives to the basket and opportunistic plays. His eight rebounds added to his impact, and his energy was infectious for a depleted squad. Watson hunted shots aggressively, providing the scoring punch Denver desperately needed without Jokic’s playmaking.

Jamal Murray complemented him perfectly with 21 points, navigating screens and hitting tough shots. Contributions from Holmes and Pickett were vital, as was Valanciunas’ dominant first three quarters against his old team.

On the Raptors side, Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 30 points, nearly forcing overtime with a banked-in three at the buzzer—only for review to show the ball still in his hands as time expired.

Immanuel Quickley added 22 points, Scottie Barnes posted a triple-double (20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists—his eighth career and second in three games), and RJ Barrett chipped in 17 points, including a missed late three that could have tied it.

Barnes’ all-around game kept Toronto in contention, dominating the glass and facilitating offense.

The Dramatic Finish: Missed Free Throws, Buzzer Drama, and Survival

The final minutes were pure chaos. Bruce Brown missed crucial free throws with seconds left, giving Toronto life. The Raptors pushed the ball upcourt, and Ingram’s deep three appeared to tie it, banking in off the glass as the crowd erupted.

However, officials reviewed the play and ruled the shot came too late—the ball was still on Ingram’s fingertips at 0.0. The call stood, and Denver escaped with the win.

This sequence encapsulated the game: Denver surviving mistakes through sheer will, Toronto falling just short despite heroic efforts.