NBA Toronto Raptors vs Denver Nuggets Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-16-2018, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Denver Nuggets +3.5

Total: +212.5

In this battle between the squads with the best records of each conference, the Toronto Raptors, who want to return to the winning ways and stay on top of the league, are visiting the Denver Nuggets, who have won two straight and want to continue on the winning ways.

Raptors are 23-8 so far in the league and are sitting on top of the whole NBA. In their latest matchup they saw a 2-game victory streak end with a road defeat by Portland, 122-128. Nuggets are 19-9 so far in the league and are tied with Golden State on top of the Western Conference. They have won their last two games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Oklahoma City at home, 109-98.

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Toronto are led in scoring by Kawhi Leonard with 26.2 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounding with 8.2 per game, while Serge Ibaka follows with 16.8 ppg, adding 7.5 rebounds per game. Pascal Siakam adds 14.4 ppg and 6.2 rebounds per game. Denver are led in scoring by Jamal Murray with 17.4 ppg. He also adds 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while Nikola Jokic follows with 17.4 ppg, adding team-bests both in rebounding with 7.6 and in assists made 10 per game. Garry Harris adds 16.6 ppg but he is out with an injury.

In their latest matchup earlier this year Denver were victorious on the road by 3 points. Denver are 11-3 at home so far, while Toronto are 12-4 on the road. Toronto have a better offense with 115.8 ppg to Denver’s 109.9, while Denver have a better defense, allowing 103.5 ppg to Toronto’s 107.7. Toronto have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 48.7% to Denver’s 46.3% and from behind the arc, shooting with 35.3% to Denver’s 34.2%. Denver are better both in assists (26.9 to 25.3) and in rebounds per game (47.2 to 45.5) and both squads commit almost the same number of turnovers (13.7 to 13.8). Toronto have not been playing so good lately and this is the perfect opportunity for Denver to utilize the home court advantage and get away with the win tonight.

Toronto Raptors vs Denver Nuggets Prediction: Denver Nuggets +3.5 (-110)