The box score was top-heavy, but that’s what the Denver Nuggets envisioned 18 months ago.

When they acquired Kenyon Martin in the summer of 2004, they were looking for a running mate for Carmelo Anthony. The 1-2 punch was in its full glory against Toronto on Monday, with Anthony scoring a game-high 37 points and Martin adding 25 points and 12 rebounds in Denver’s 107-101 win.

“That’s what they’re supposed to do,” guard Andre Miller said. “Competitive players, scorers, rebounders — they’re a big part of why we play the way we play.”

Injuries have kept them from producing many games like the one against the Raptors. Martin struggled with tendinitis in his left knee last year. Even after offseason surgery, the knee has hampered him most of this year.

Not lately, though. In the past five games, Martin has looked stronger. He is averaging 18.2 points and 11.2 rebounds in that span — all Nuggets wins.

“Kenyon is getting more confidence in his offensive and defensive game,” said Denver head coach George Karl, whose team has won six in a row overall. “You’ve got to be encouraged to see his game improved the way it is.”

Martin not only played a big part in Denver beating the Raptors, he took another step in returning to 100 percent. A night after playing 32 minutes, 56 seconds in Denver’s 89-85 win in San Antonio, Martin played a game-high 40:09 against Toronto before fouling out with 19.1 seconds left and the game in hand.

“Man, I’m getting there,” he said when asked if he’s close to 100 percent.

Martin saved his biggest production for the fourth quarter, when the Nuggets started to pull away from the scrappy Raptors. Toronto is 14-28 and struggling but still managed to hang around. Denver held a slim 77-73 lead after three quarters, but heavy legs started to kick in for the Raptors, who were victims of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game Sunday night.

The Nuggets (24-19) took advantage, stretching the lead to 93-81 on Martin’s 4-foot running jump hook with 5:20 left. They got the lead to as much as 15, and things looked sewn up when Anthony connected with Martin on an alley-oop layup that made it 100-88.

Toronto made it interesting, cutting the lead to 105-101 on Mike James’ 3-pointer, but Anthony and Martin were too much for the Raptors.

“They played well against Chicago,” said Miller, referring to Anthony and Martin’s play on Martin Luther King Day. “Kenyon’s being really aggressive.”

The Nuggets had more reason to be happy. Besides padding their lead in the Northwest Division, they won games on back-to-back nights for the first time in eight tries this year. Before Monday, they were 5-9 in back-to-back games.

“This is turning into a special month,” Karl said, referring to Denver’s 9-2 record in January. “I expect us to win a few more games in January to make it real special.”

It took until the end of January 2005 for the Nuggets to start jelling, but this year they got started early. Injuries stunted their growth in the first half of the season, but Denver is starting to put things together heading into the second half.

“We’re starting to know each other even better,” Martin said. “That’s a good sign for us as a team.”