The Denver Nuggets will look to regain their shooting form as they visit the short-handed and turnover-prone Toronto Raptors on Monday night. The Nuggets shot 40.2% from the field in their recent 109-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, despite Nikola Jokic scoring 41 points and hitting a career-best seven 3-pointers. This followed a 35.7% shooting night in their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they lost 102-87.
Improving their three-point shooting from 18.4% on Thursday to 40% on Saturday, thanks to Jokic’s 7-for-12 effort, Denver committed just 10 turnovers while forcing 17. However, Nuggets coach Michael Malone was concerned about the timing of their mistakes.
The Raptors, meanwhile, were without key players RJ Barrett (shoulder), Immanuel Quickley (pelvic bruise), Bruce Brown (knee), and Kelly Olynyk (back) in their 112-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barrett is questionable for Monday, while Brown and Olynyk are out, and Quickley is doubtful.
Gradey Dick scored a career-high 25 points for Toronto, but the team committed 20 turnovers, leading to 27 Timberwolves points. The Raptors have 66 turnovers in their first three games, including a 27-turnover performance in their 115-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Scottie Barnes, who had 20 points against Minnesota, also committed six turnovers. Despite the loss, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic praised his team for battling through their mistakes.
Dick rebounded from two sub-40% shooting games to hit 9-of-16 shots (56.3%) against the Timberwolves and is second on the team with 16.3 points per game. He credits Barnes for drawing defensive attention and helping him get open, as Barnes had six assists.
Ochai Agbaji added 19 points for Toronto, who trailed 32-18 after the first quarter and 56-44 at halftime. Last season, the Nuggets won both games against the Raptors, including a 125-119 victory on March 11, where Jamal Murray scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, overcoming a 21-point deficit in the third. The upcoming match promises to be another intense encounter.
