Prediction in Denver!
Denver have home-court advantage, Jamal Murray is averaging 27.3 points per game, and Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard. However, Denver are only 3-3 this season and have lost two of their first three home games.
Match: Nuggets vs Raptors
League / Competition: NBA
Our Pick: Nuggets -4,5
Odds: 1.92
Market: Handicap
Analyst Confidence: 4/5
The Denver Nuggets have a good opportunity to get back to winning ways when they welcome the Toronto Raptors to Ball Arena. Playing at altitude gives Denver a valuable home-court advantage, and their offensive quality makes them a dangerous opponent.
Jamal Murray has been Denver’s standout performer early this season, averaging 27.3 points per game. He has scored 35 or more points in three of his first six appearances, providing an important scoring option alongside Nikola Jokić.
Toronto will also be without Kawhi Leonard, whose absence takes away an important scoring and defensive presence. This could make it more difficult for the Raptors to contain Denver’s two-man game between Murray and Jokić.
Denver will need to improve its rebounding and defensive intensity after the recent defeat against Portland. If the Nuggets control the boards and make better use of their home advantage, they have the quality to win by at least five points.