Denver Nuggets set to host Lowry, DeRozan, red hot Toronto Raptors

It’s pretty cool to be a fan of the Toronto Raptors right now.

Your organization came up with a successful and clean new uniform concept. The city is hosting the All-Star game in just under two weeks and both Kyle Lowry (starter) and DeMar DeRozan (reserve) will be suiting up for the Eastern Conference. No. 1 fan and Global Ambassador Drake is on top of the rap game, still, and will be a central figure at all All-Star festivities where he’s sure to tamper with the league’s top free agents. Oh, and you’ve won 11 in a row and are just 2.5 games back of he Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed in the East.

Raptors still streaking

Over the course of Toronto’s 11-game win streak, which has been intact since Jan. 6th, the Raptors have clearly been the league’s third best team. They have the third best NetRtg in the league during their streak, behind just Golden State and San Antonio, and boast the second most efficient defense in that span. Granted Toronto drew Philadelphia once and Brooklyn twice in a two week span, winning both contests against the Nets by double digits, took down a Kristaps Porzingis-less Knicks squad and defeated the Wizards twice. But still handled the Clippers, Celtics, Heat and Pistons like clockwork.

Terrance Ross, who’s struggled to be that consistent scoring threat all year for the Raptors has gained traction as of late, nailing 43.8 percent of his three point range attempts through his last 11 games and Lowry and DeRozan have continued to score the ball with efficiency. However, it’s been their third-ranked defense which has carried them, which seems odd considering DeMarre Carroll missed the last 12 games and is without a timetable to return after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee back on Jan. 6th.

Carroll was the Raptor’s marquee free agent acquisition last summer, coming to the Toronto on a four-year $60 million contract and was thought of as the team’s best perimeter defender. Since he’s gone down, coach Dwayne Casey has upped Bismack Biyombo’s, James Johnson‘s and Patrick Patterson‘s minutes, going to more traditional lineups more often, and has relied on Lowry for nearly 40 minutes a night. The Raptors are just over four points per 100 possessions better defensively with Carroll on the bench this season, but this spike on the defensive end still seems odd.

Here’s a reminder of what happened when the two teams met back in December:

Battle of the Backcourts

If Denver can score effectively on Toronto and keep the score close, tonight’s game may come down to if the Nuggets can put the clamps on the Lowry-DeRozan backcourt which has been stellar all season.

Lowry (21.o points per game) and DeRozan (23.2 ppg) make up one of only four backcourts (Portland, Golden State, Oklahoma City) to have their two guards averaging over 20 points per game on the year. In their first meeting with Denver back on Dec. 3rd, where the Nuggets snapped an eight game losing streak and pulled out a 103-102 win in Toronto, Lowry was limited to just 16 points, while DeRozan had his way, scoring 34.

Mudiay can give the smaller Lowry fits with his length and Harris is playing the best ball of his career after missing the first matchup with a concussion. He’s sure to provide more of challenge to DeRozan than Randy Foye did in his place last time the two teams saw each other. Harris doesn’t have ideal length to go up against taller two-guards like DeRozan, but makes up for it with quick hands and his ability to anticipate his man’s next movement. How Harris and Mudiay fare against Toronto’s backcourt may ultimately decide tonight’s contest.