Vegas NBA Basketball Picks and Tips: Toronto Raptors vs Denver Nuggets
Friday, January 27, 2012
Frank Martin
The Denver Nuggets own the second-best record in the Western Conference, are fresh off the best road trip in team history and just locked up their top player for four more years.
Life is good for Denver, which will try to continue its dominance over Toronto Raptors on Friday. Denver has won eight straight meetings and 13 of the last 14, and is coming off the first sweep of a five-game road trip in team history. Danilo Gallinari is in top form with 60 points in his last two games, and has made the Nuggets and their fans quickly forget about Carmelo Anthony.
The Raptors won their second straight game and improved to 2-1 on their five-game road trip with a 111-106 victory in double overtime over Utah on Wednesday. The win was costly, though, as 7-foot center Andrea Bargnani re-injured his left calf and left the game in the first overtime.
- Toronto Raptors @ Denver Nuggets
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, January 27, 2012
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN2 (Toronto), Altitude (Denver)
The Nuggets have opened as 12-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Toronto Raptors (6-13): Bargnani said the injury was “much worse’’ than the first one, which caused him to miss six games – all Toronto losses. Bargnani is averaging 23.5 points, well above his career average of 15.4. The Raptors will need Linas Kleiza to fill the scoring void. Kleiza, who spent his first four seasons with Denver, has played nine games since recovering from knee surgery last February and produced season highs of 33 minutes and 25 points – including five in double overtime – against Utah.
Denver Nuggets (13-5): Denver rewarded Gallinari with a four-year, $42-million contract extension Wednesday. “The contract means a lot,” said the 23-year-old Italian, who was acquired from New York in a blockbuster trade last season. “It means this team, this franchise really believes in me.” The Nuggets’ depth will be tested Friday as guards Ty Lawson (ankle), Rudy Fernandez (Achilles) and Arron Afflalo (groin) are doubtful to play. Lawson suffered his injury in the second quarter of Wednesday’s 122-93 victory at Sacramento.
1. Denver has the best home record in the NBA (138-33) since the start of 2007-08.
2. Toronto hasn’t won three straight on the road since 2007.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Nuggets 102, Raptors 100
Bet on NBA Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!
Related Articles
- NBA Best Western Conference Game Odds: Dallas at Denver
- Western Conference NBA Odds: Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets
- Vegas NBA Basketball Odds: Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets
- Western Conference NBA Picks and Tips: Denver at Los Angeles
- Vegas NBA Prediction: Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets
Category
Tags
andrea bargnani - arron afflalo - carmelo anthony - danilo gallinari - denver nuggets - linas kleiza - pepsi center - rudy fernandez - toronto raptors - ty lawson
