The Toronto Raptors (30-15) will attempt to keep their nine-game winning streak alive when they meet the Denver Nuggets (17-28) at the Pepsi Center. Action begins at 9:00 pm ET on Monday, Feb. 1 and can be seen on ALT and SNT.
The Nuggets are hoping for a better outcome after their 119-105 loss to the Hawks in their last matchup. Will Barton was the team’s leading scorer with 21 points. The Raptors, meanwhile, are coming off a 106-89 win against the Wizards in their last game. Kyle Lowry was the game’s top scorer, registering 29 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
Expect this one to be a clinic on boxing out, as two of the NBA’s top rebounding teams face off. Denver is among the league’s best on the offensive glass, ranking fifth in offensive rebound percentage at 26.5%. Meanwhile, Toronto ranks fifth in the NBA at corralling defensive boards with a defensive rebound percentage of 78.2%.
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Nuggets winning the first matchup 106-105. DeMar DeRozan was the top overall scorer in the game with 34 points.
The Raptors take on the Nuggets as a five-point favorite. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at 206 points. The Nuggets have gone 18-30 Straight Up (SU) and 25-20-3 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have had success covering the spread (8-2). The Nuggets have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 107.5 points during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 100.2 points per game.
In the other locker room, the Raptors have 32-15 SU and 26-20-1 ATS records. Toronto performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 7-3 record. The Raptors get to the line and convert their free throws at a high volume, ranking fifth in the league with 913 made (20.0 per game). Moving on to Toronto’s defense, the Raptors allow just 96.7 points per game, ranking them fifth in the league. Taking care of the basketball is something the Raptors do very well, averaging just 12.8 turnovers per game.
In their previous meeting this season, Denver beat Toronto, bringing the head-to-head record to an even 5-5 SU over the last 10 meetings. The Nuggets lead the matchup ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – Tor, ATS Winner – Tor, O/U – Under
Notes
Denver is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Denver’s last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver’s last 7 games at home.
Denver is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games at home.
Denver is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing Toronto.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver’s last 7 games when playing Toronto.
Denver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver’s last 9 games when playing at home against Toronto.
Denver is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Toronto.
Denver scores an average of 100.2 points per game (ranked 20th), while Toronto allows 96.7 points per game (ranked fifth).
On average, Denver puts up 101.5 points per home game (ranked 21st), while Toronto gives up 96.6 points per away game (ranked fourth).
At 6-11, the Denver Nuggets have a losing record when their opponents score fewer than 100 points. The Toronto Raptors are 9-7 when they don’t hit the century mark.
When allowing 100 or more points in a game, the Nuggets are just 11-17 this season. Toronto is a solid 21-8 when it reaches the century mark.
The Nuggets have an offensive rating of 102.2 (ranked 21st). The Raptors rank ninth for their defensive rating of 101.2.
The Denver Nuggets average 97.5 possessions per game and 1.022 points per possession, while the Toronto Raptors earn fewer possessions (95.3) but more points per possession (1.063).
The Toronto Raptors average an effective field goal percentage of 49.8% this season. The Denver Nuggets have an underachieving record of 7-20 when opponents have an EFF% of 49.8% or greater.
On average, the Denver Nuggets make 22.2 assists per game and the Toronto Raptors make 18.5. Denver is ranked 11th, while Toronto is ranked 28th.
Denver makes an average of 4.6 blocks per game (ranked 17th). Toronto ranks higher in blocks with 5.2 (ranked 12th).
Denver ranks among the best in the league in offensive rebounding at third, while Toronto ranks a solid 12th in defensive rebounds.
Toronto averages 8.3 steals per game, ranking 10th in the league. Denver is a poor 10-16 when it allows at least 8 steals.
