The Nuggets were out-rebounded 53 to 37 in their loss to the Blazers on Monday, falling to 3-3 on the year. Through the opening two weeks of the season, they appear to have a real problem defensively. Opponents are grabbing 14.5 offensive rebounds a game, most in the league, and taking 91 shots -- 25th. That's far too many extra possessions. Enter the Toronto Raptors, who lead the NBA at 15.3 offensive rebounds a game. Their leader, Scottie Barnes, has had a great start to the season and delivered 15 boards and eight assists in Monday's win at the Clippers. Like Portland, this is a young, long team that plays hard on both sides of the ball every night. But they are still struggling to put together stops. The last three Raptors games went 235, 256 and 243.
Last season, Eastern Conference teams playing their third straight road game on a Western Conference road trip went over the total 17 of 30 times. Toronto was 2-0 outright in that spot, and both games went over. Jakob Poeltl is questionable again with a shoulder issue, and without him the Raptors may look to Trayce Jackson-Davis to match up with Jokic. Yikes. Jokic will get his. Denver's three home games have averaged 251 and Toronto's last three overall have averaged 245. A lot of possessions in a building where nobody has scored fewer than 118 this season points toward the over.
Bonus Pick: Scottie Barnes 40+ PRA (+156)
Raptors vs Nuggets prediction: Over 230.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
