Raptors vs. Nuggets Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
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Charlie Grant
Just when the Raptors thought their injury woes were behind them, they face the possibility of playing the Nuggets in Denver without three key contributors on Sunday. Toronto looks to snap a two-game losing skid when they arrive in Mile High City to take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Dinos are coming off an ugly setback against Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. They lost outright 99-96 despite being 13.5-point home favourites. The result was the club’s second loss in as many outings after it failed to take down the Bucks on Tuesday night.
Toronto remains in second place in the Eastern Conference at 42-17, but the Boston Celtics are just a half game back entering Saturday’s action on the hardwood. Sunday’s game is the first of five on the Raptors’ Western Conference road trip. There’s a good chance the Raps will be underdogs in at least two of those games – including Sunday against the Nuggets.
The Drakes are allowing a league-low 106 points per game and the Under is 5-0 in their last five outings. Toronto is 0-8 against the spread in its last eight against Denver, but the two sides haven’t played against each other since December 2018.
The Nuggets are coming off a blowout loss to the Clippers on Friday night at the Staples Center. They’re just 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS over their last five contests. Denver has played Under the total in just two of its last 10 games.
The squad is battling the Clippers for the second seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are +800 to win the West according to Sports Interaction. The Lakers (+162), Clippers (+235) and Rockets (+600) all have shorter odds.
Toronto Raptors
Wing fixture Norman Powell returns from a month absence and the Raptors play without Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet. The Raptors’ core players (Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell) have missed a combined 90 games this season.
Ibaka, Gasol and VanVleet are the latest to man the injured list. All three players are joining the team on its current five-game road trip, but none of the three are a lock to play on Sunday.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are still in search of a consistent second wheel to big man Nikola Jokic. Canadian Jamal Murray is supposed to be the answer, but his scoring is a little bit too erratic to trust long term.
Michael Porter Jr. might be the answer. The mid first round pick in the 2018 draft was one of the top high school talents in 2017, but a back injury ruined his one-year stay at the University of Missouri. Porter has had some standout performances this season, but head coach Mike Malone doesn’t seem to completely trust him.