After the Nuggets’ poorest third quarter of the season, which was sandwiched between a blowout victory, Jamal Murray brushed it off.

“If you look at every game we’ve played, I feel like there’s been a stint where we haven’t played well,” he told reporters on Saturday.

They dug their largest halftime hole of the season at Ball Arena, 17 points after trailing by as many as 22, as if to see whether they could claw their way out against an injury-plagued opponent. They could. Denver trounced Toronto 125-119 on Monday night, completing a remarkable 180.

Nikola Jokic recorded 35 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals, and two blocks for his 126th career triple-double. Aaron Gordon scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, proving to be effective when no one else was. Murray totaled 11 assists.

Toronto All-Star Scottie Barnes and a few teammates were absent due to injuries, so Jontay Porter, a two-way forward, was among the first Raptors off the bench. He outperformed expectations with 14 points and five assists on 4 of 7 outside shooting in his first NBA game with his brother, Michael Porter Jr.

In his second return to Denver this season, Bruce Brown recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Nuggets coach Michael Malone adjusted his bench rotations. Jokic took a seat with three minutes left in the first quarter, and Gordon played the five for 60 seconds before Zeke Nnaji entered the game. But things began to unravel as the second unit gave up an 11-0 lead to begin the second frame. Jokic checked back in earlier than normal to coincide with his early departure. With 9:34 left in the half, he committed the Nuggets’ seventh turnover and his second of the game.