Arguably the toughest place to play in the NBA is in the thin air of Denver, where the Toronto Raptors continue their road trip Monday night. The reigning league champion Nuggets opened as 13.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds.

Raptors vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds

While I personally don’t believe the Nuggets will repeat as NBA champions, they are certainly good enough to do it led by centre Nikola Jokic, who is the betting favourite to win a third regular-season MVP Award. He would become the ninth player to win at least three, and it’s certainly not out of the question he could get to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of six. Denver showed how good it can be last Thursday when it beat Boston, the team with the NBA’s best record, by six in the Mile High City.

This concludes the season series with the Raptors as Denver won in Toronto 113-104 on Dec. 20. Jokic had 31 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Kitchener native Jamal Murray had 20 points. By topping 30 points against Toronto for the first time, Jokic has now scored 30 or more against every NBA opponent.

“That’s Nikola Jokic,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, who knows Jokic from working together with the Serbian national team. “It’s nothing new in this league, it’s happening every single night.”

Scottie Barnes had 30 points in the loss but is currently out injured. Pascal Siakam had 18 but of course was traded to Indiana. Denver leads the all-time series 33-22 and is 19-8 as the home team but did lose there in the series last season. The clubs have split the season series in four straight years (2019-20 to 2022-23).

Toronto Raptors

RJ Barrett was a late scratch Saturday in Portland due to an illness and not clear yet if the trade acquisition will suit up Monday. Even without Barrett, the Raptors really shouldn’t have lost to a bad Blazers team playing the second of a back-to-back, but that’s what happened as Portland prevailed 128-118 in OT, Toronto’s third straight loss. Rookie Gradey Dick moved into the starting lineup for Barrett and had eight points. Immanuel Quickley led the way with 29 and seven assists, while Gary Trent had 23 but was only 10-for-23 from the field. Quickley is averaging 21.8 points, 8.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds since the All-Star break and at age 24 is the youngest of five players averaging 20/8/6 in that span, joining Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Dejounte Murray. Chris Boucher had a strong game off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said his team looked tired going into overtime. The Dinos are 1-5 ATS in their past six.

Denver Nuggets

It would have been understandable if the Nuggets were caught in a bit of a trap game at home Saturday vs. Utah after beating NBA-best Boston in a possible NBA Finals preview the game prior, but the Nuggets were clicking on all cylinders vs. the Jazz with a 141-121 victory. Nikola Jokic played through a bruised right arm that kept him out of shootaround and finished with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Jamal Murray had 37 points. He was 6-for-9 from deep and Denver was 19 of 32 overall. No team is beating the Nuggets if they shoot that well. Denver is now 7-0 this season when shooting at least 50 per cent from the field in all four quarters of a game. It marked Murray’s seventh 30-point game of the season, tying the number of 30-point games he had last season. Monday features an all-brother matchup between Toronto centre Jontay Porter and his older brother Michael Porter Jr. The pair played together at Missouri for one season (2017-18). Michael is the much better player. The Nuggets are 7-2 ATS in their past nine.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Raptors vs. Nuggets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.39
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.96
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 12.35
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 62.4
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.37
Blocks	Peyton Watson 1.1

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 28.67
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.67
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.42
FG%	Jalen Pickett 66.7
Steals	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 1.42
Blocks	Michael Porter Jr. 0.83

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.39
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.96
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 12.35
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 62.4
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.37
Blocks	Peyton Watson 1.1

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 28.67
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.67
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.42
FG%	Jalen Pickett 66.7
Steals	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 1.42
Blocks	Michael Porter Jr. 0.83

Injuries

Toronto

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 14 / 04 / 24

Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)

Out Sun Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 10 / 04 / 24

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 24

Gradey Dick (SG)

Prob Wed Groin - 07 / 04 / 24

Denver

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Sun Elbow - 18 / 05 / 24

Jamal Murray (SG)

Ques Thurs Calf - 15 / 05 / 24

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Tues Calf - 13 / 05 / 24

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 12 / 05 / 24

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Ques Sun Calf - 12 / 05 / 24

Jamal Murray (SG)

Ques Sun Calf - 12 / 05 / 24

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 11 / 05 / 24

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Ques Sun Calf - 11 / 05 / 24

Jamal Murray (SG)

Ques Sun Calf - 11 / 05 / 24

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Fri Abdominal - 09 / 05 / 24

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 14 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Barrett is bothered by knee soreness, and he will not battle the Heat on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)	Out Sun	Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gueye is hampered by a right thumb sprain, and he will not take on the Heat in Sunday's showdown.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Quickley is laid up with a left adductor strain, and he will not participate in Sunday's tilt against the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Trent Jr. was held out of the last contest due to back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Heat on Friday.
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barrett will not partake in Wednesday's showdown versus the Nets as he will be given a day of rest.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Brown sat out the previous game with right knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will face the Heat on Friday.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Nwora exited the previous game with an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Olynyk will not be available for Wednesday's clash with the Nets as he will receive a day of rest.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 24	2-2	3-1	+ -
Quickley will not be active for Tuesday's clash with the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Gradey Dick (SG)	Prob Wed	Groin - 07 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Dick missed the last game with a right groin contusion, but it is projected that he will line up against the Nets on Wednesday.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Sun	Elbow - 18 / 05 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Murray left the last game with an elbow injury, but he is likely to be on court against the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Ques Thurs	Calf - 15 / 05 / 24	2-1	2-1	+ -
Murray is dealing with a left calf strain, and it is unknown if he will face the Timberwolves in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Tues	Calf - 13 / 05 / 24	2-1	2-1	+ -
Murray is dealing with a left calf strain, but he is likely to be on court against the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 24	3-1	3-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Ques Sun	Calf - 12 / 05 / 24	3-1	3-1	+ -
Jackson is hampered by a left calf contusion, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Ques Sun	Calf - 12 / 05 / 24	3-1	3-1	+ -
Murray is managing a left calf strain, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Ques Sun	Calf - 11 / 05 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Jackson is hampered by a left calf contusion, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Ques Sun	Calf - 11 / 05 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Murray is managing a left calf strain, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Fri	Abdominal - 09 / 05 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Caldwell-Pope has been bothered from right abdominal contusion, and it is likely to suit up against the Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.