Raptors at Nuggets
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets own the second-best record in the Western Conference, are fresh off the best road trip in team history and just locked up their top player for four more years. Life is good for Denver, which will try to continue its dominance over Toronto when it hosts the Raptors on Friday. Denver has won eight straight meetings and 13 of the last 14, and is coming off the first sweep of a five-game road trip in team history. Danilo Gallinari is in top form with 60 points in his last two games, and has made the Nuggets and their fans quickly forget about Carmelo Anthony. The Raptors won their second straight game and improved to 2-1 on their five-game road trip with a 111-106 victory in double overtime over Utah on Wednesday. The win was costly, though, as 7-foot center Andrea Bargnani re-injured his left calf and left the game in the first overtime.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN2 (Toronto), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (6-13): Bargnani said the injury was “much worse’’ than the first one, which caused him to miss six games – all Toronto losses. Bargnani is averaging 23.5 points, well above his career average of 15.4. The Raptors will need Linas Kleiza to fill the scoring void. Kleiza, who spent his first four seasons with Denver, has played nine games since recovering from knee surgery last February and produced season highs of 33 minutes and 25 points – including five in double overtime – against Utah.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (13-5): Denver rewarded Gallinari with a four-year, $42-million contract extension Wednesday. “The contract means a lot,” said the 23-year-old Italian, who was acquired from New York in a blockbuster trade last season. “It means this team, this franchise really believes in me.” The Nuggets’ depth will be tested Friday as guards Ty Lawson (ankle), Rudy Fernandez (Achilles) and Arron Afflalo (groin) are doubtful to play. Lawson suffered his injury in the second quarter of Wednesday’s 122-93 victory at Sacramento.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Denver has the best home record in the NBA (138-33) since the start of 2007-08.
2. Toronto hasn’t won three straight on the road since 2007.