Game: Denver Nuggets @ Toronto Raptors
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Nuggets +1, Raptors -1
Total: 227.5
Somebody’s three-game losing streak is coming to an end tonight when Denver visits Toronto. Before leaving for a five-game road trip that begins in Toronto, the Nuggets lost 122-120 to the Brooklyn Nets at home on Sunday despite Nikola Jokic’s triple-double of 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The Raptors are approaching a stretch that will determine whether they will make the playoffs or play-in tournament. The Nuggets still hold a five-game lead in the Western Conference following their third consecutive loss. Toronto lost 122-112 to the Lakers on Friday and hasn’t played since. Toronto’s current losing streak began with a 118-113 loss to Denver last Monday.
The Raptors were in ninth place in the Eastern Conference heading into Monday, only one position ahead of the last play-in slot. Toronto is a half-game ahead of the tenth-place Bulls and one game in front of Washington in 11th. The Raptors need to continue winning games if they want a shot at the play-in tournament.
Against the Lakers on Friday, Scottie Barnes scored a career-high 32 points. He also added nine rebounds and seven assists. O.G. Anunoby added 31 points, giving the Raptors two players with 30 points-plus. Since February 6, 2012, Toronto had not lost a game in which two of its players scored 30 or more points.
At the buzzer on Sunday, Jokic missed a three-pointer that would have given Denver the victory over Brooklyn after they had fallen down by 15 points in the fourth quarter. Teammate Jamal Murray scored 16 points, but due to left knee pain, he was unable to participate in the fourth quarter. His status for tonight’s game is questionable.
Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points against the Nets. Christian Braun, who didn’t enter the game until the fourth quarter, contributed seven points, three rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot during the Nuggets’ comeback attempt. Braun played just under 12 minutes in the fourth quarter as Denver outscored Brooklyn 33-24, but it wasn’t enough.
Even with the three straight losses, Denver is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games. The Nuggets are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games, but they have had success against Toronto. Denver is 6-3 SU in the last nine games against the Raptors. The Nuggets are also 8-2 ATS in the last against the Raptors in Toronto.
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last five games. The Raptors have been playing well at home lately going 6-1 SU in the last seven at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto is trending Over with four of the last five game totals going Over. The Raptors have one of the higher Over percentages in the league with an O/U record of 36-30-2 for the season.
Five of the last seven Nuggets games have gone Over too. The Over has been a strong bet in Denver’s away games. The Nuggets’ road O/U record for the season is 18-14 and six of the last nine away games have seen the total go Over.
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