On Monday, the Toronto Raptors (1-5) face off against the Denver Nuggets (2-3) at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. For other NBA action see our NBA Predictions.

Denver comes into this matchup on a one-game losing streak and has dropped three of their first five games of the season prior to their game against Utah. In a closely contested game against Minnesota, which ended in a 119-116 defeat for Denver, Aaron Gordon shone brightly by netting 31 points for the Nuggets. For this season, the standout player for Denver has undeniably been Nikola Jokic, who is averaging an impressive 30.4 points per game, making him the team's top scorer. Closely following him is Aaron Gordon, who has been consistently delivering with an average of 18.6 points per game. In addition to his scoring capabilities, Nikola Jokic is also the leading rebounder for the Nuggets, pulling down an average of 11.6 rebounds a game. Demonstrating his all-around prowess, Jokic also tops the assists chart for Denver, contributing an average of 10 assists per match. Within their first five games this season, the Nuggets have conceded an average of 118.8 points to their opponents, positioning them in third place in the Northwest Division standings. Eager to capitalize on an opportunity, Denver is preparing to face the Toronto Raptors, whose offensive struggles could play to the Nuggets’ advantage in securing a vital win on their home court. Cumulatively, the Nuggets have been putting up an average of 115.6 points per game as the season unfolds.

Toronto enters this game on a four-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games prior to their game against Sacramento. In a closely contested game against the Lakers, which ended in a 131-125 defeat for the Raptors, RJ Barrett was a standout performer, racking up 33 points. So far this season, Barrett has emerged as Toronto's top scorer, boasting an impressive average of 28 points per game. Following him is Gradey Dick, who currently holds the position of the team's second-highest scorer with an average of 20.8 points per game. On the defensive side, Jakob Poeltl has proven to be a key player for the Raptors, leading the team in rebounds with an average of 12.5 per game. Additionally, Barrett is not only excelling in scoring but also in playmaking, as he leads the Raptors in assists with an average of 7.7 assists per game. The team's performance in the first five games has been lackluster, with Toronto conceding an average of 123 points per game and finding themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings. Their offensive struggles are evident as they look to improve their gameplay in an upcoming road game against Denver. Despite the challenges, the Raptors have managed to maintain an average of 125.2 points per game this season.

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