Nuggets vs. Raptors Preview
By Eric Meyer
Dec 5, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) shoots the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) at Air Canada Centre. The Cavaliers won 105-91. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets are coming off their third loss in a row, a 96-84 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. They currently sit 0-2 on the 3 game eastern road trip and 9-11 overall on the season. The Raptors come into the game leading the eastern conference with a 15-5 record and have won 7 of their last 10 games and sit at a stellar 9-3 at home in the friendly confines of the Air Canada Center.
The bright spots for the Nuggets continue to be Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler (who is playing the best basketball of his career) and Darrell Arthur who continues to be a consistent performer off the bench for the Nuggs. The Nuggets will come into the game shorthanded as Nate Robinson may not play tonight as he left yesterday’s game with an undisclosed injury. The Nuggets will also be without Forward Kenneth Faried who did not play yesterday and is questionable tonight with a lower back strain.
The Raptors are fairly healthy and are led by Point Guard Kyle Lowry who is becoming a star in the league before our very eyes. He is joined by the smooth shooting DeMar DeRozen as Lowry notches 20.7 points per game and DeRozen is right on his heels at 19.4. The Raptors have a good front court as well led by Greek Center Jonas Valanciunas who averages 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in holding down the inside for the Raptors.
The Nuggets need a win pretty badly but they are up against it in Canada tonight. The Raptors are legitimate contenders in the eastern conference and they are a terrific home team. I don’t see the Nuggets putting it together tonight with the injuries and playing on the second of back-to-backs so make mine Raptors 107, Nuggets 96. Follow the Nuggets @NuggLove and follow me @TheEMAN155 on twitter!