Nuggets game day: Denver's inconsistent bench unit will be tested again in Toronto

The last time the Denver Nuggets held an opponent under the century mark, Mason Plumlee was the team’s starting center, Emmanuel Mudiay was a part of the rotation and Jamal Murray was still a few weeks away from the legal drinking age.

On Jan. 27, Denver eked out an ugly 91-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home. In the 25 games since, the Nuggets have been unable to hold an opponent under 100 points, which is tied for the longest streak in the NBA in the last 23 seasons.

Introducing defense into the equation would go a long way in helping Denver earn a win over the high-scoring Toronto Raptors on Tuesday (5:30 p.m., Altitude).

The Nuggets, the fifth-worst defensive team in basketball, will have their work cut out for them against a Raptors team that’s ranked third in offensive efficiency. Toronto is averaging 111.5 points per 100 possessions. It’s found success on the offensive end by embracing a modern approach. The Raptors are launching nearly eight more three-pointers per game than they did a year ago.

DeMar DeRozan (23.4 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Kyle Lowry (16.7 ppg, 6.8 apg) do most of the heavy lifting. There’s much more to Toronto than just them, though. The Raptors are perhaps the deepest team in the league. Their five-man bench unit of C.J. Miles, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright Jacob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam is bludgeoning opponents this season.

On paper, it has the upper hand against a Nuggets’ bench unit. Devin Harris, Mason Plumlee, Trey Lyles and Torrey Craig combined to score 18 points on 7-16 shooting in a 123-104 loss to the 76ers on Monday. The Nuggets had an eight-point lead at halftime of that game, but Philadelphia outscored Denver 72-45 over the final two quarters to earn a convincing win.

“The first half I thought was a great half for us,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said on Altitude TV’s post-game broadcast. “Then in that third quarter we allowed our offense to dictate our lack offense, our lack of rebounding, our lack of fight. … Tonight was an awful example of us not being disciplined in the second half.”

Getting back in the win column in Toronto won’t be easy. Denver is 4-9 on the second night of back-t0-backs.

Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Raptors Projected Starters

Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, O.G. Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas