With less than a week of Summer League action left, the time is now for young players to step up. As every NBA fan knows, high stakes often leads to high-caliber basketball. That could lead to a fun matchup between the Raptors and Nuggets, set for 8:00 p.m. EST tonight in Vegas. After a busy offseason for both squads, who has the edge going into Tuesday’s contest?
DraftKings Sportsbook is listing the Raptors as 8.5-point favorites and -410 on the moneyline. The Nuggets are at +320 odds on the moneyline, and the game total is set at 180. Let’s break down both Summer League squads, players to watch, and a pick for the contest.
Raptors vs. Nuggets preview, prediction
It’s been a role reversal for these two teams this month. The Nuggets, a perennial contender, have had trouble with their bench over the past few years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Denver has dropped both of its Summer League games. The opposite is true for the Raptors, winners of two straight. Toronto has been a lottery team for most of the decade, but a crop of young role players has some promise. That includes first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles. The defense-first power forward looked solid during his first career game on Sunday (eight PTS, seven REB, three STL).
However, several other Raptors have impressed over the past week. Last year’s top selection, Ja’Kobe Walter, is averaging 14.0 points per game, albeit on mediocre 37.0% shooting. Jamal Shead and Alijah Martin haven’t lit up the box score, but the guards have shown promise on both ends of the floor. Fourth-year pro A.J. Lawson has been the biggest surprise of Summer League, notching a team-leading 21.5 points per game. The forward has also chipped in with 2.0 stelas and 1.0 blocks. Is this level of two-way production sustainable? Probably not, but it’s safe to say that Lawson has put himself in position to make Toronto’s opening roster.
Compared to the Raptors, it’s clear that the Nuggets are somewhat lacking in young talent. Granted, five different members of the team are averaging more than 10.0 points per game. The rub is that nobody has stepped up; Denver’s leading scorer is former second-round pick Hunter Tyson (12.5 PPG). If anyone on this squad stands out, it would be DaRon Holmes. The 2024 first-round pick tore his ACL last year in Vegas, ending his rookie season before it even started. Once seen as a potential backup to superstar Nikola Jokic, the power forward shouldn’t be slept on. He’s looked solid so far, dropping 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 24.9 minutes per game. The 22-year-old could have quite the battle with fellow big man Murray-Boyles on Tuesday night.
Raptors vs. Nuggets Pick, Best Bet
It’s impossible to ignore how each of these clubs have looked over their first two Summer League games. The Raptors have gotten out to a quick start, reeling off two wins by a combined score of 205-158 In comparison, the Nuggets have failed to tally more than 89 points in both of their defeats. Looking over Denver’s roster, it’s difficult to see where most of their scoring will come from. Holmes is capable of delivering a solid performance, but it’ll take more than that to earn a victory tonight. Don’t be shocked if Toronto dominates on Tuesday.
