What is going on with the Nuggets?
Denver appears locked into a top-six seed in the Western Conference, so there probably shouldn’t be too much concern with the former champions, but after dropping a tilt to the actively-tanking Grizzlies on Wednesday, the Nuggets have now lost 12 of their past 21 contests. It’s not quite the vibes you want heading into the postseason.
Can Denver get things back on track in the Mile High City on Friday? Let’s preview this tilt with the help of some of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Raptors at Nuggets prediction, preview
The Nuggets’ loss to Memphis could be viewed as a blip on the radar, yet it’s a somewhat inexplicable result when you realize just how badly the team was trying to win the game. While Aaron Gordon (hamstring) was resting on the second night of a back-to-back, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun both logged over 40 minutes. Nikola Jokic played 38.6 minutes of his own, registering 29 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists — though the three-time MVP did match a career-high with 10 turnovers, as well. Not quite the type of triple-double he’s hunting.
All that said, Denver’s recent results are less a matter of the sky falling, and more of a malaise. The squad has simply been average. The exact middle of the road. To wit, the Nuggets are 5-5 in March with a +1.4 net rating that ranks 16th in the NBA. You couldn’t be more unremarkable if you tried. It’s also worth acknowledging the continued absence of Peyton Watson (hamstring), who will miss his 19th straight game on Friday night. The fourth-year forward was a massive reason that Denver survived Jokic’s injury absence earlier in the season, producing 21.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest in January. When the 23-year-old returns, I’d expect to see the Nuggets take their game to a higher level.
On the other side of this matchup we find the Raptors, who are getting hot at the absolute perfect time. After spending roughly the last two months in the five-spot in the East, Toronto found itself outside the top-six last week following a very disappointing loss to the Pelicans. However, the team has responded with quality victories over the Suns and the Pistons, then it destroyed the Bulls 139-109 on Wednesday in Chicago. That was the first night of a five-game road trip that will see the Raptors visit Denver, Phoenix, Utah and Los Angeles to take on the Clippers. It could be considered a daunting task for a squad trying to cling to a playoff spot, but Toronto has actually been among the league’s best road teams in 2025-26. The Raptors are 20-13 away from Toronto with a +2.9 net rating that ranks ninth in the NBA.
If the Raptors do hang on in the East, it will likely have a lot to do with the play of All-Star Brandon Ingram. The wing began March in a slump, yet he’s been fantastic over this mini winning streak, averaging 29.3 points per contest and shooting 59.6% (31-for-52) from the field. Ingram has scored at least 30 points 11 times this season, though somewhat surprisingly, Toronto is only 6-5 on those occasions.
Raptors at Nuggets pick, best bet
Best Bet: Raptors +7.5 (-118)
I don’t know if the Raptors win this game outright, but I do think this spread is a little hefty considering the Nuggets’ recent play. Toronto is 18-15 ATS on the road this season, while Denver is just 16-16 ATS at Ball Arena — very disappointing for a squad that usually boasts the NBA’s best home court advantage.
