The Denver Nuggets are settling into a groove. Since returning from hiatus, they have been preparing for games against marquee teams and taking care of business against teams they are expected to beat. Tonight there will be another business game with the Toronto Raptors in town. The Raptors kicked off the season a few weeks before the trade deadline when they shipped out OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in separate trades. Although they did get the return of Bruce Brown among a plethora of other things, none of that will help the Raptors avoid a deep rebuild. The team is now focused on creating a core around 21/22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes (out tonight) and looking towards greener pastures for the seasons to come.
The essentials
WHO: Denver Nuggets (44-20) vs. Toronto Raptors (23-41)
When: 7:00 p.m. (French time)
Or: The can. Denver, Colorado.
How to watch/listen: Denver Stiffs does not condone piracy…unless it’s a fictionalized 18th century hack. Altitude TV where available (Altitude TV is on DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV). NBA League pass for those not in the Nuggets market. Altitude Radio 92.5. Wear a suit, say you’re Bruce Brown’s agent and you’re here to meet Calvin next year.
Rival blog: Raptors HQ
The game
| Position | Nuggets | Raptors | Advantage |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Emmanuel Quickley | Nuggets |
| SG | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Gary Trent Jr. | Nuggets |
| SF | Michael Porter Jr. | RJ Barrett | Nuggets |
| PF | Aaron Gordon | Ochai Agbaji | Nuggets |
| VS | Nikola Jokic | Kelly Olynyk | Nuggets |
| Bench | Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji | Chris Boucher, Gradey Dick, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jordan Nwora | Nuggets |
Injury Report: Vlatko Cancar – out (knee), Braxton Key – out (G-League), Jalen Pickett – out (G-League), Hunter Tyson – out (G-League); RJ Barrett – questionable (illness), Chris Boucher – questionable (knee), Bruce Brown – questionable (knee), Scottie Barnes – out (hand), Jakob Poetl – out (hand), DJ Carson – out (ankle), Mouhamadou Gueye – eliminated (G-League)
The three things
What to watch out for: Jamal Murray vs. Emmanuel Quickley
February 26, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, United States; Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) dribbles the ball as Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Immanuel Quickley has really flourished in Toronto’s system since arriving in a trade with the New York Knicks. He took on the role of starting playmaker and added some real playmaking to his scoring prowess. He’s surpassed double-digit assists in three of his last five games, including 18 just two games ago, and increased his APG total by four (thanks to helping about 50 percent minutes additional per match). Meanwhile, Jamal Murray appears to be in playoff shape. Fresh off a 37-point night that was overshadowed by Jamal’s poor press conference ethics, it will be interesting to see just how big Jamal’s “F you” mentality is tonight and how this translates into the field.
What you must remember : Toronto is so hurt
Yes, the Raptors were moving toward a rebuild, but that doesn’t mean they wanted their standard operating procedure to be four small guards and Kelly Olynyk. Unfortunately, that’s essentially the choice Toronto was faced with, particularly in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, which saw RJ Barrett sit out due to illness. You know you have issues size-wise when Barrett’s loss is notable. RJ is listed as questionable tonight, as are bench tight end Chris Boucher and our old friend Bruce Brown. Barnes and Jakob Poetl are absent for the season. These five guys alone probably have enough to compete for a play-in spot in the East, so injuries are taking their toll in Toronto. Still, Denver can’t lose focus or they could find themselves on the wrong side of an ugly loss.
The thing to bet on: Aaron Gordon on 0.5 blocks (+125)
With the size of the Raptors, this will leave an opportunity for some strikes. It’s been a few games since AG has had one and that leads us to make some pretty good money on a guy who averages 0.6 blocks per game and will defend someone who is 6’6″ or less for the vast majority of the match. It’s always a risk betting on getting a block, but I think the Toronto game makes that more likely than not.
SNO again this week!
Three weeks, three strong evenings. You must love it! We return to number thirty-eight this Wednesday for Stiffs Night Out. At this point you know the principle. Giveaways, $15 pitchers, great food, live post-game podcast and all the best Nuggets fans come together to watch Denver in a Finals rematch against the Miami Heat. It’s a good match start for us on a Wednesday, so get off work, head to number thirty-eight for a tip at 5:30 p.m., watch the post-match pod, and get home on time bedtime. I hope to see everyone there!
