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NBA Power Rankings: Highs and lows for the Toronto Raptors

By Ian Levy

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks on with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks on with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 5: Juan Hernangomez #41 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets high five before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 5, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 5: Juan Hernangomez #41 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets high five before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 5, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

73. . 26-12. Previous: 3rd. denver nuggets. 3. team

It’s honestly amazing where the Nuggets are at this point, and the leap they’ve taken in the first half of the season. It’s even more incredible when you consider how much horrible injury luck they’ve had. Michael Porter Jr. and Isaiah Thomas may have been superfluous and a gamble, respectively, this season but both had the potential to help the Nuggets and neither has played a game. Gary Harris has missed 13 games. Paul Millsap has missed eight. Will Barton has missed 36. If you knew in October that the Nuggets would approach the halfway point of the season with their top-five in minutes played being Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Juan Hernangomez, Monte Morris and Malik Beasley what kind of odds would you have needed to bet on them being first in the West.

Luckily, the Nuggets have legit MVP contender Nikola Jokic putting up 18.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, directing the offense and building one of the best big-man highlight reels of all time.

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