Denver Nuggets will now be fighting against Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 (7:00 PM ET – Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON). The Nuggets are now fighting just to stay in the playoff race. The Nuggets have a 27-23, 12-11 away record while the Raptors have 16-34, 8-16 home record. This is the second game of the two game series and the Nuggets are leading the series by 1-0. The Nuggets have the betting odds (3/7) and Raptors (19/10).

On Wednesday night, Denver goes for a 10th consecutive victory over the Raptors and fifth consecutive season series sweep. The Nuggets had the second-best record in the West at 14-5, after a 96-81 victory over Toronto (16-34) on Jan. 27. They did improve to 1-2 on their current seven-game road trip with a 108-91 victory over league-best Chicago on Monday, although they have struggled to a 27-23 overall record.

After giving up a season high in points in Monday’s 117-101 loss to Orlando, the Raptors have plenty of room for improvement on the defensive end. In 2011-12, the Magic hit 15 3-pointers and they were tied for the most against Toronto. The Raptors may have to do so without DeMar DeRozan and Jerryd Bayless, if they want to bounce back. DeRozan has suffered a left ankle injury and he has missed the last two games. Bayless missed the previous two contests with a left hip pointer. He had scored 18 points in the Jan. 27 loss.

Toronto needs another big effort from former Nugget Gary Forbes. He has in his last three games averaged 17.3 points and scored a career-high 21 points Monday. His performance was well quite exciting. On Tuesday, the Raptors also signed Ben Uzoh to a 10-day contract and this might add some depth at the backcourt.

After missing the loss in Denver with a left calf strain, Raptors center Andrea Bargnani will get his first look at the Nuggets this season. The Italian center will try to help Toronto to bring the four-game home skid in this series to an end. In Denver’s last visit on Dec. 10, 2010, the Italian scored 24 points, a 123-116 loss. In that game, former Nugget Linas Kleiza led Toronto with 26 and 12 boards.

March 23, 2007 was when the Raptors secured their last victory over the Nuggets 121-94, at Air Canada Centre.