Toronto Raptors vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction, NBA Odds
The Toronto Raptors aim to win four in a row for the first time since late January and strengthen their grasp on fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in NBA betting action at Ball Arena.
The Raptors kicked off a crucial five-game road trip in Chicago on Wednesday night with a decisive 139-109 win to snap a three-game slide on the road, and now enjoy a 1.5-game lead over Atlanta and Orlando in the battle for fifth spot.
The Nuggets return home in wake of Wednesday’s 125-118 loss in Memphis, and have produced mixed results during a 5-4 run on home court.
The Raptors trail as 3.5-point 6.5-point underdogs on Friday’s NBA odds, and are pegged as a +220 bet on the NBA moneyline. The total for Friday’s contest is set at 238.5.
Raptors vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds
The Nuggets extended their recent domination of the Raptors with a 106-103 victory in their first matchup of the season on New Year’s Eve in Toronto, and have now knocked off the Dinos in five straight clashes and in seven of eight dates in Denver since 2016.
However, it has been the Raptors that have regularly paid out on the NBA odds when these clubs meet, covering the spread in six of eight tilts including four straight at Ball Arena. Indeed, each of the past three contests involving these teams by three or fewer points, and the OVER has gone 10-3-0 in 13 matchups.
The Raptors have also rewarded loyal betting fans during their current 3-0 overall run, covering the spread in each of those outings while claiming victory by an average margin of 16 points.
While the Nuggets have struggled to maintain consistency, winning consecutive games just twice during a 9-12 SU run since the start of February, they have been steadier at the sportsbook with ATS wins in eight of their past 14, and remain deadlocked with Houston in the battle for fifth place in the West.
Toronto Raptors
RJ Barrett has been an increasingly steady addition to the lineup since his return to the lineup after being sidelined by injury for over a month earlier in the campaign. Barrett posted a team high for the fourth time in seven games with 23 points in Wednesday’s win, and has now averaged 22 points over his past five road appearances.
Scottie Barnes has struggled to match the scoring pace he enjoyed earlier in the campaign, averaging just 15.8 points this month and scoring 20+ points just once in 13 games. However, Barnes has been steady in the paint, pulling down 6+ rebounds in four straight outings including a 14-point, 10-rebound performance in Sunday’s huge 119-108 win over Detroit.
Big man Jakob Poeltl has looked fit while playing some of his best ball of the season this past week. Poeltl followed up a 21-point, 18-board performance versus the Pistons with 17 points and eight rebounds versus the Bulls and has averaged 8.7 rebounds and tallied a pair of double-doubles this month.
Denver Nuggets
After being used sparingly in Tuesday’s 124-96 home win over Philadelphia, Nikola Jokic exploded for 29 points, 14 boards, and nine assists in Wednesday’s losing cause in Memphis. The Serbian superstar has been consistently dominant during the Nuggets’ recent middling run, averaging 26.3 points, 12.8 boards, and 10.7 helpers in 10 March appearances, recording five triple-doubles and three double-doubles over that stretch, and should be backed on the NBA player props as a -118 bet to top 49.5 points + rebounds + assists on Friday night.
Things have not gone as well for Jamal Murray. The Kitchener, Ontario native was limited to 19 points on meagre 6-for-13 shooting on Wednesday night, and has averaged just 12 points while converting just 29.4 per cent from the floor over the past three games.
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