{"id":669387,"date":"2026-03-20T20:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/669387\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T20:29:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:29:19","slug":"preview-defenseless-nuggets-to-host-fun-high-effort-raptors-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/669387\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Defenseless Nuggets to host fun, high-effort Raptors team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like many of you, this Nuggets fan felt broken after Wednesday night\u2019s embarrassing and indefensible loss to a team in the midst of an active tank job. My confidence in this iteration of Jokic Ball being able to cobble together a championship run after what has been a disappointing three months of injuries, lack of defensive effort, and questionable coaching has never been lower.<\/p>\n

Since the Nuggets seem content to pack it in on any given night\u2014even with a top-four seed now very much in jeopardy and even at home\u2014I\u2019ve decided to pack in this preview by having Claude write it. <\/p>\n

Slop in, slop out, Nuggets.<\/p>\n

Gonna talk about this for tomorrow’s Mortcast: We don’t “need” to see more. We’ve seen the Nuggets. Yes, they might string together some wins to end the year but, I’m not gonna accuse you of having lying eyes. We are all seeing the same thing and there’s a reason its bad.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jeff Morton (@jmorton78) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Nuggets host a Toronto Raptors team that\u2019s been quietly hot, riding a three-game winning streak into altitude. Denver is coming off a frustrating loss in Memphis \u2014 a game they shouldn\u2019t have dropped against a lottery-bound squad \u2014 and sits sixth in the West with only 12 games left to improve their seeding. The team routed Philadelphia on Tuesday night but didn\u2019t get into Memphis until 4:30 a.m. due to flight delays, so rest and rhythm are the storyline heading into tonight. This is a \u201chandle your business\u201d game on paper, and the Nuggets are 70.7% win probability favorites for a reason. <\/p>\n

The Basics<\/p>\n

Who: Toronto Raptors (39-29) at Denver Nuggets (42-28) <\/p>\n

When: 7:00 PM MST<\/p>\n

Where: Ball Arena, Summery Denver, Colorado<\/p>\n

How to watch\/listen: Altitude TV \/ + \/ AM<\/p>\n

Rival Blog: Raptors HQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Injury Report | Nuggets: Peyton Watson\u2014out (hamstring)<\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors: Chucky Hepburn\u2014out (knee); Collin Murray-Boyles\u2014doubtful (thumb)<\/p>\n

We just passed the 6-week threshold on Peyton Watson’s absence.<\/p>\n

Nuggets sure coulda used an 8th player in the 2nd half rotation last night.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Three Things<\/p>\n

The thing to watch for: Christian Braun\u2019s resurgence<\/p>\n

\"\"Mar 18, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) drives to the basket ass Memphis Grizzlies forward Tyler Burton(5) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Christian Braun has been on a tear lately, scoring 22 against the 76ers and 26 against the Grizzlies, and he\u2019s the kind of secondary scorer who can blow this game open when defenses sell out on Jokic and Murray. Cameron Johnson is also shooting 43.1% from three on the season and dropped 18 and 20 in his last two games \u2014 if Toronto tries to pack the paint against Jokic\u2019s passing, Johnson will make them pay. The other big development: Aaron Gordon is available tonight, giving Denver back a critical piece on both ends of the floor. Watch how the Nuggets\u2019 half-court offense flows with AG back as a lob threat and cutter next to Jokic. The Nuggets lead the league in three-point percentage at 39.1% \u2014 if they\u2019re splashing early, this one could get out of hand.<\/p>\n

The thing to remember: Don\u2019t sleep on Toronto<\/p>\n

The Raptors are 20-13 on the road this season and just blew out Chicago 139-109. They have real players \u2014 Brandon Ingram averaging 21.9, RJ Barrett at 19, Scottie Barnes at 18.7, and Immanuel Quickley running the show at 6 assists per game. Toronto ranks second in the league in fast break points, and if the Nuggets are careless with the ball \u2014 Jokic\u2019s 3.9 turnovers per game are a career high this season, and he coughed it up 10 times in Memphis \u2014 the Raptors can absolutely turn those into transition buckets and keep this competitive. Denver\u2019s 7-8 since the All-Star break is real, and several of those losses came in overtime or by three points or fewer. The Nuggets have to close this time.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dec 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The thing to bet: Nuggets ML + Over<\/p>\n

The spread is hovering around Nuggets -7.5, and honestly, that feels like a lot for a Denver team that has struggled to put opponents away lately. The Nuggets are 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games as favorites of 5+ points, with three outright losses in that stretch. The underdog has also covered in 7 of the last 9 head-to-head meetings between these two teams. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re betting the Nuggets \u2014 and as a fan, of course you are \u2014 the moneyline at around -270 is the safer play. The total is set at 237.5, and the last six games between these teams at Ball Arena have gone over. With Denver\u2019s offensive firepower and Toronto\u2019s willingness to push pace, the over feels like the sharpest angle tonight. I\u2019d lean Nuggets ML + Over as the parlay if you\u2019re feeling frisky.<\/p>\n

\u2014Claude out<\/p>\n

CODA: Death once had a near-Chuck-Norris experience. But I guess Chuck had unfinished business. RIP Legend. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t