The Toronto Raptors followed up their biggest regular season win in franchise history in disappointing fashion, but they don’t have any time to sulk about their loss in Portland. The Dinos visit the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Toronto is coming off a 128-122 loss to the Trail Blazers as a 1.5-point road favourite. The result drops the Raptors to 23-8 straight up (SU) and 15-16 against the spread (ATS).

The Drakes are now just 3-3 straight up in their last six games and their lead in the Eastern Conference is shrinking with the Milwaukee Bucks hovering and the Boston Celtics’ riding an eight-game win streak heading into Saturday’s action on the hardwood.

Sports Interaction still lists Toronto as the favourite to win the East at +145 and the second favourite, behind Golden State, to win the NBA title at +500.

The Nuggets are right there with the Celtics as one of the hottest teams in the Association. Denver is 8-2 SU and against the spread in its last 10 games, and the club is 10-4 ATS when playing on its home floor.

Even worse news for Toronto backers: the Nuggets are 7-0 ATS in the last seven matchups against the Raptors – including earlier this month when the Nugs won outright at the ACC as 7-point road underdogs.

Toronto Raptors

Injuries are a major concern heading into the game on Sunday. Starters Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam are both questionable to play and backup big man Jonas Valanciunas is out until late January because of a dislocated thumb he suffered in the huge win over the Golden State Warriors.

Lowry or Siakam alone sitting out would be a large handicap for the Raptors’ chances of stealing a win in Denver. Lowry is the engine that makes Toronto’s offence move. He’s unselfish and his accurate shooting from deep opens up space for his teammates to operate.

Fred VanVleet is one of the best backup point guards in the league but it’ll be asking a lot from him to pick up the slack – especially if he’s forced into guarding Nuggets combo guard Jamal Murray.

Denver Nuggets

Denver is tinkering with its own lineup because of some missing bodies. The Nuggets started Mason Plumlee on Friday night against the Thunder and moved regular starting centre Nikola Jokic to power forward.

The Nuggets tried this combination with little success last season but they’re forced into these creative lineups because regular starters Paul Millsap and Gary Harris are both out with injuries.

Injuries

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19

Jeremy Lin (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19

Serge Ibaka (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19

Denver

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Sun Thigh - 05 / 05 / 19

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Fri Nose - 02 / 05 / 19

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Fri Thigh - 02 / 05 / 19

Torrey Craig (SF)

day-to-day Nose - 01 / 05 / 19

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Sat Thigh - 26 / 04 / 19

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 09 / 04 / 19

Paul Millsap (PF)

Out Sun Rest - 06 / 04 / 19

Jamal Murray (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 06 / 04 / 19

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 31 / 03 / 19

Malik Beasley (SG)

Ques Thurs Personal - 26 / 03 / 19

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Mon	Face - 08 / 06 / 19	2-0	1-2	+ -
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 15 / 05 / 19	7-4	6-6	+ -
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 04 / 05 / 19	9-6	8-8	+ -
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 02 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 01 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Mon	Back - 18 / 04 / 19	13-8	9-13	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	15-9	10-15	+ -
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	15-10	10-15-1	+ -
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19	18-10	12-16-1	+ -
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19	19-10	12-17-1	+ -
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Sun	Thigh - 05 / 05 / 19	3-1	4-0	+ -
Murray is expected to play against the Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the Western Conference second round despite a right thigh injury.
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Fri	Nose - 02 / 05 / 19	4-2	5-1	+ -
Craig sustained a nasal contusion in the last game but is expected to take the court against the Nuggets for Game 3 of the Western Conference second round.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Fri	Thigh - 02 / 05 / 19	4-2	5-1	+ -
Murray aggravated a right thigh injury but is expected to suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Torrey Craig (SF)	day-to-day	Nose - 01 / 05 / 19	4-2	5-1	+ -
Craig left Wednesday's game due to a nasal contusion and it is unclear if he will return.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 26 / 04 / 19	4-4	6-2	+ -
Murray has a left thigh injury, but it is likely he will suit up against the Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference first round.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 09 / 04 / 19	8-8	11-5	+ -
Barton is expected to take the court Tuesday against the Jazz despite a right finger sprain.
Paul Millsap (PF)	Out Sun	Rest - 06 / 04 / 19	10-8	12-6	+ -
Millsap will not play in Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers as he will be rested.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 06 / 04 / 19	10-8	12-6	+ -
Murray will not suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Trail Blazers for rest purposes.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 31 / 03 / 19	11-10	13-8	+ -
Murray was lifted from the last game due to a left ankle sprain but is likely to face the Warriors on Tuesday.
Malik Beasley (SG)	Ques Thurs	Personal - 26 / 03 / 19	11-13	14-10	+ -
Beasley missed the previous game due to a personal matter and it is unclear if he will rejoin the lineup Thursday against the Rockets.

Raptors vs. Nuggets Prediction