VanVleet powers Raptors past Nuggets 125-110

Fred VanVleet's 36-point performance powered the Toronto Raptors past the Denver Nuggets 125-110 on Tuesday.

TORONTO – Fred VanVleet’s 36-point performance powered the Toronto Raptors past the Denver Nuggets 125-110 on Tuesday.

VanVleet also had seven assists and three steals as Toronto (33-36) snapped a three-game losing skid.

O.G. Anunoby’s smothering defence and 24 points helped the Raptors gain a measure of revenge following a controversial ending to a 118-113 loss in Denver on March 6.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Western Conference-leading Nuggets (46-23) with 23 points and six rebounds.

MVP candidate Nikola Jokic had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Denver lost its fourth straight.

The Raptors’ losing streak began with a loss to the Nuggets last week, as Canadian guard Jamal Murray converted a free throw in the final stretch of that comeback victory after Scottie Barnes was ejected by referee Scott Foster on a controversial technical foul.

Denver beat Toronto in that game despite Anunoby limiting Jokic to a relatively quiet 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

“We did take away a couple of things that were pretty major,” said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse before Tuesday’s game. “One of the things (Jokic) likes to do is bring the ball up the floor and we did pressure that early.”