The Toronto Raptors (42-17) visit the Mile High City Sunday to play the Denver Nuggets (40-19) at Pepsi Center at 6 p.m. ET. We analyze the Raptors-Nuggets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Raptors at Nuggets: Key injuries
Raptors
- PF Serge Ibaka (knee) questionable
- SG Fred VanVleet (shoulder) questionable
- C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
- PF Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out
Nuggets
- PF Paul Millsap (ankle) questionable
- PF Noah Vonleh (ankle) questionable
- C Bol Bol (foot) out
Raptors at Nuggets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 4:15 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Raptors 113, Nuggets 108
Moneyline (ML)
This is a premier cross-conference matchup featuring the current 2-seed in the Eastern Conference, Raptors (+135), and the Western Conference’s third-seeded, Nuggets -161. Both teams come into this game after rough losses and embarrassing in their own ways. Toronto has dropped back-to-back games, including a 99-96 loss to the lowly Charlotte Hornets, but the Raptors have an excuse as they were without Ibaka and VanVleet.
Denver was handed a 132-103 beatdown by the Los Angeles Clippers in their last game, Friday. Wait on the injury report before betting this game. If the Raptors get their starters back I like them on the moneyline because they are the better team, and paying $161 for a $100 profit with a Nuggets win is poor value.
PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Let’s gamble on the possible health of Toronto starters and BET RAPTORS +3.5 (-115). They are a better non-conference team against the spread than Denver. The Raptors have an 11-8 ATS record against the West and the Nuggets have a 9-10-3 ATS record versus the East.
Toronto generally bounces back from a loss, going 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following an ATS loss. Plus, the Raptors are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and the Nuggets are mediocre on offense. The Raptors rank first in opponent points per game, second in opponent field-goal percentage and first in opponent 3-point percentage. Denver scores the 20th most points per game and ranks 16th ranked 3-point percentage.
TAKE the RAPTORS +3.5 (-115).
Over/Under (O/U)
I have a slight lean toward the OVER 217.5 (-110) for several reasons. First, they average a combined 230.2 points per game on Sundays. Second, the Over is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings. Third, the combined Over/Under record of the officiating crew assigned to the game is 74-49 on the season. The one caveat is the banged-up Raptors have played to the Under in five straight games and have failed to score more than 100 points in four of those contests.
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