A five-game home winning streak is on the line for the Denver Nuggets (19-9) when they go head-to-head with the Toronto Raptors (23-8) at Pepsi Center. The game will air on Altitude Sports & Entertainmnt at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 16, 2018.
Toronto Raptors vs. Denver Nuggets ATS Odds
In the Nuggets’ last game, they were victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 109-98, despite being 2-point underdogs. The Raptors, on the other hand, were defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers, 128-122, and were not able to cover as 1.5-point underdogs. The Denver game went 10 points under the projected point total of 217, while the Toronto game finished 34 points over the projected point total of 216.
Denver’s 0.572 effective field goal percentage was their biggest advantage over Oklahoma City, who had a mark of 0.450. The Nuggets’ mark was above their season average of 0.519, while the Thunder’s was below their season average of 0.509. Toronto, meanwhile, was on fire from beyond the arc (18-31; 58.1 percent). Denver was lifted by Nikola Jokic, who finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Danny Green, meanwhile played a key role for Toronto with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
In their first matchup this year, Jokic led the Nuggets to a 106-103 win. He notched a triple-double with 23 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds. The two teams combined for 209 points, which was under the projected point total of 219.5, and Denver covered as a 7-point underdog. Denver won the rebounding battle. The Nuggets had more offensive rebounds (15 vs. seven) and total rebounds (49 vs. 41).
Matchups featuring the Raptors have a tendency to finish over the O/U total (58.1 percent). Toronto holds records of 23-8 straight up (SU) and 15-16 against the spread (ATS).
Contrary to Toronto, games featuring the Nuggets have a tendency to finish under the total (60.7 percent). Additionally, Denver is 19-9 SU and 17-11 ATS.
Jokic and Monte Morris have played well over the last five games for Denver. Jokic has averaged 20 points,10.6 rebounds,9.4 assists,1.6 steals, while Morris has recorded 13 points,3.6 assists,1.2 steals a game during that span.
The offensive glass could be a huge edge for Denver in this meeting. The Nuggets are among the league’s elite on the offensive glass, ranking first in offensive rebounding percentage at 27.4 percent. Meanwhile, Toronto ranks 26th in the NBA at corralling defensive rebounds with a defensive rebounding percentage of 75.2 percent.
Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Raptors, ATS Winner – Raptors, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Raptors average 18.419354838709676 points off turnovers per game, which ranks 8 in the league. The Nuggets rank 11 in points off turnovers allowed per game (16.25).
- Denver averages 26.9 assists per game, which ranks third in the NBA. Toronto ranks 19th in assists allowed per game (24.4).
- The Raptors rank 12th in blocks per game (5.5) while the Nuggets rank 24th in blocks allowed per game (5.9).
- Denver ranks first in rebounds allowed per game (41.9) while Toronto ranks 13th (44.2).
- Toronto ranks 7 in points in the paint per game (51.29032258064516) while Denver ranks 13 in points allowed in the paint per game (47.5).
- The Nuggets average 15.7 second chance points per game, which ranks second in the NBA. The Raptors rank 16th in second chance points allowed per game (13.6).
- The Raptors rank 9 in three pointers attempted per game (33.516129032258064) while the Nuggets rank 18 in three pointers allowed per game (31.964285714285715).
- Toronto averages 8.225806451612904 steals per game, which ranks 13 in the NBA. Denver ranks 14 in steals allowed per game (7.714285714285714).
- Toronto ranks third in fast break points per game (18.4) while Denver ranks 16th (12.4).
- Denver is 11-1 when they hold opponents below 100 points, while Toronto is 6-0.
- In games where they reach 100 points, the Nuggets are 19-5 and the Raptors are 22-7.
- Toronto is 9-7 ATS on the road, while Denver is 10-4 ATS at home.
- The Raptors have 8 overs and 8 unders in 16 road games.
- The Nuggets have 8 unders and 6 overs in 14 home games.
Bettings Trends:
- The Nuggets are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Raptors are 2-3.
- In their last five games, Denver has 3 overs and 2 unders, while Toronto has 3 unders and 2 overs.
- The Nuggets’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 1.8, down from 6.5 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Raptors have scored an average of 112.4 points per game (3.4 below their season average) and allowed an average of 106.0 points per game (1.7 below their season average).
