Nuggets @ Raptors

Who will WIN this matchup?

Denver Nuggets (15-7)

@ Toronto Raptors (20-4)

Current odds:

Denver Nuggets: (+230)

Toronto Raptors: (-270)

• The line for this game is Toronto by 6.5 points.

• The Toronto Raptors own the best record in the NBA and are off to the best start in franchise history while enjoying an eight-game winning streak. The Raptors will try to make it nine in a row when they open a two-game homestand by hosting the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Toronto could have been excused for suffering a letdown Saturday after holding off the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in overtime on Thursday, but instead it continued to do what it’s been doing all season and rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95. Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard averaged 35.5 points on 25-of-45 shooting over the last two games to lead the way and is averaging 25.5 points in his first season with the team.

• The Nuggets aren’t as consistently dominating as Toronto but once again look like a team that can challenge in the Western Conference while riding a five-game winning streak. Denver began its five-game road trip with a 113-112 victory at Portland on Friday while welcoming back shooting guard Gary Harris (ankle) from a two-game absence.

• Harris scored 27 points in his return on Friday, but it was a message from power forward Paul Millsap during a late-game huddle that had people talking. “The one thing I loved tonight, (Millsap) grabbed our guys in the huddle and said, ‘Fellas, we talk about being a playoff team. If we’re really going to be a playoff team, this is a game we have to get,'” Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. “I loved hearing that from him because he’s not always the most vocal, but when he does talk people do listen.” Millsap finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win for his second straight double-double.

• Toronto is more than just Leonard and put some of its depth on display Saturday with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry (back) sidelined. The Raptors started Fred VanVleet at point guard and still managed to shoot 48.8 percent from the field and place all five starters in double figures, with VanVleet contributing 15 points and four assists in 33 minutes. Power forward Pascal Siakam added 15 points in the win and is averaging 18 points on 71.4 percent shooting over the last four contests.

• Raptors SG Danny Green is 10-of-19 from 3-point range over the last three games.

• Nuggets reserve PG Monte Morris scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 30 minutes on Friday, snapping a string of four straight games in single digits.

• Toronto took three of the last four meetings.