The Nuggets haven't exactly done much recently to give fans the kind of hope they need that a championship is still within reach. But they showed heart, fight, and passion, and completed the first step in earning back fans' trust. And their thrilling 121-115 clutch win over the Toronto Raptors may be just what fans need to restore the faith in the Nuggets.
The Nuggets came out flat, and they looked sluggish for three-quarters, falling behind by as many as 11 in the third. But a fourth-quarter defensive clinic by Nuggets' standards, and superb play from Tim Hardaway Jr.