Nuggets at Raptors
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets have reached the point of their season where they cannot afford to lose any games they are expected to win. Wednesday’s contest at Toronto is an example. The Nuggets have won nine straight over the Raptors, including four in a row in Ontario. Denver is in the middle of the tight Western Conference playoff picture. Toronto, which has lost two straight, is in no such position in the East, and headed for its fourth straight trip to the draft lottery.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude (Nuggets), TSN2 (Raptors)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (27-23): Denver is tied for seventh in the West, but only 1 1/2 games behind the fourth-place Los Angeles Clippers as three games separate fourth from 10th. The Nuggets have enjoyed success on the road with a 12-11 mark – the third-most wins in the West behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio. They are also sky high after improving to 1-2 on their season-high seven-game road trip following a 108-91 victory at Chicago on Monday. Coach George Karl asked point guard Ty Lawson to speed up the offense Monday. He succeeded and also matched a season high with 27 points. Center JaVale McGee on Monday made his first start in his fourth game since being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline, and contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (16-34): Toronto is having a sub-par season, but at least 24 of its games have been decided by eight points or less. In order for the Raptors to take the next step, though, they will have to improve on their 7-17 record in those games. Guard Gary Forbes scored a career-high 21 points in Toronto’s 117-101 loss to Orlando on Monday and has reached double figures in three straight games. Jerryd Bayless left Monday’s game after re-aggravating his hip injury Monday. He and guard DeMar DeRozan (ankle) are questionable to play Wednesday.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Denver is 13-1 against the Eastern Conference – its only loss an inexplicable 100-99 setback to Cleveland at home on March 7.
2. The Nuggets are 35-16 against the spread in their last 51 road games and 8-1 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Raptors.