Denver, CO
Preview: Nuggets play another take care of business game against Raptors
The Denver Nuggets are settling into a groove. Since returning from break they’ve been getting up for the games against the marquee teams and taking care of business against the teams they should beat. Tonight will be another take care of business game with the Toronto Raptors in town. The Raptors punted on the season a few weeks before the trade deadline when they shipped out O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in separate trades. While they did net a return of Bruce Brown among a plethora of other things, none of it is going to help the Raptors avoid a deep rebuild. The team now focuses on creating a core around the ’21/’22 Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes (out tonight) and is looking on to greener pastures in seasons to come.
The Essentials
Who: Denver Nuggets (44-20) vs Toronto Raptors (23-41)
When: 7PM MST
Where: The Can. Denver, CO.
How to watch/listen: Denver Stiffs does not condone piracy….unless it’s the romanticized 18th century type. Altitude TV where available (Altitude TV is on DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV). NBA League pass for those not in the Nuggets market. Altitude Radio 92.5. Wear a suit, say you’re Bruce Brown’s agent and you’re here to meet with Calvin about next year.
Rival Blog: Raptors HQ
The Matchup
| Position | Nuggets | Raptors | Advantage |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Immanuel Quickley | Nuggets |
| SG | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Gary Trent Jr. | Nuggets |
| SF | Michael Porter Jr. | R.J. Barrett | Nuggets |
| PF | Aaron Gordon | Ochai Agbaji | Nuggets |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Kelly Olynyk | Nuggets |
| Bench | Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji | Chris Boucher, Gradey Dick, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jordan Nwora | Nuggets |
Injury Report: Vlatko Cancar – out (knee), Braxton Key – out (G-League), Jalen Pickett – out (G-League), Hunter Tyson – out (G-League); R.J. Barrett – questionable (illness), Chris Boucher – questionable (knee), Bruce Brown – questionable (knee), Scottie Barnes – out (hand), Jakob Poetl – out (hand), D.J. Carson – out (ankle), Mouhamadou Gueye – out (G-League)
The Three Things
The thing to watch for: Jamal Murray vs Immanuel Quickley
Feb 26, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Immanuel Quickley has really flourished in Toronto’s system since coming over in a trade with the New York Knicks. He’s taken on the role of their starting point guard and has added quite the playmaking game to his scoring prowess. He’s topped double digit assists in three of his last five games, including putting up 18 just two games ago, and has raised his APG total by four (granted with the help of getting about 50% more minutes a game). Meanwhile Jamal Murray seems to be rounding into playoff form. Fresh off a 37 point night that was overshadowed by Jamal’s poor press conference ethic, it’ll be interesting to see how big of an “F you” mentality Jamal is in tonight and how that translates on the court.
The thing to remember: Toronto is so injured
Yes the Raptors have shifted towards a rebuild but that doesn’t mean they wanted their standard operating procedure to be four small guards and Kelly Olynyk. Sadly, that’s essentially the choice Toronto has been saddled with, particularly in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday which saw R.J. Barrett sit out due to illness. You know you’re in trouble on the size front when losing Barrett is notable. RJ is listed as questionable tonight, as is bench wing Chris Boucher and our old friend Bruce Brown. Barnes and Jakob Poetl meanwhile are out for the season. Those five guys alone probably have enough to compete for a play-in spot in the East so the injuries are taking a massive toll in Toronto. Still, Denver can’t lose focus or they might end up on the wrong end of a an ugly loss.
The thing to bet: Aaron Gordon over 0.5 blocks (+125)
With how small the Raptors are going to play it’s going to leave some opportunity for some swats. It’s been a few games since AG has had one and that’s driving us into pretty good plus money on a guy who averages 0.6 blocks a game and will be defending someone who is 6’6″ or smaller for the vast majority of the game. Always a risk betting on getting one block but I think the Toronto matchup lends to it happening more likely than not.
SNO again this week!
Three weeks, three stiffs night out. You gotta love it! We are headed back down to Number Thirty-Eight this Wednesday for Stiffs Night Out. At this point you guys know the drill. Giveaways, $15 pitchers, great food, live postgame podcast and all the best Nuggets fans getting together to watch Denver in a Finals rematch against the Miami Heat. It’s an early game which works out well for us on a Wednesday so get off work, head over to Number Thirty-Eight for a 5:30 tip, watch the postgame pod and be home by your bedtime. Hope to see everyone there!
Students from across the Denver metro are heading to the state Capitol to push for free after-school opportunities statewide.
The proposal would create a “My Colorado Card” program, giving students in sixth through 12th grades access to cultural, arts, recreational and extracurricular activities throughout the state.
For students like Itzael Garcia, Denver’s existing “My Denver Card” made a life-changing difference. He said having access to his local recreation center helped keep him safe.
“We had a couple stray bullets go through our living room window, we had people get shot in front of our house, different things like that,” Garcia said. “Over the summer, being able to go to the public pool, it provided a space for us to all come together. In a way, it acted as a protective factor.”
The My Denver Card provides youth ages 5 to 18 with free access to the zoo, museums and recreation centers. For some, like Garcia, it has served as a safe haven.
That impact is why students involved with the nonprofit FaithBridge helped craft legislation to expand a similar pilot program to communities outside Denver.
“We really just thought that inequity and really distinct opportunity deserts for students was really important for us to correct,” said Mai Travi a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School. Another student echoed that sentiment.
“We have a lot of students in the program that come from Aurora Public Schools, and they don’t have access to the same cultural facilities that we have living here; opportunities that really define our childhood experiences,” said Jack Baker, also a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Vernon Jones, director of the nonprofit FaithBridge, said organizers are still working out logistics but hope to partner with counties across Colorado.
“This is a strategy to work for all of Colorado,” he said.
Denver school board member Marlene De La Rosa said the My Denver Card program has been impactful since its launch in 2013.
“For students that are on free and reduced lunch, the ‘My Denver Card’ can help scholarship some of their fees to participate in the youth sports at the recreation centers,” De La Rosa said.
Last year, 45,000 Denver youth had a card, accounting for 450,000 visits to recreation centers, outdoor pools and cultural facilities, she said.
“I think it is very beneficial,” De La Rosa said.
The Denver program is funded by city tax dollars approved by voters in 2012. The proposed statewide pilot would instead rely on donations and grants.
The bill has cleared its first committee but still needs approval from the full House and Senate.
Denver, CO
Tempers flare during another tightly contested matchup between Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder
The University of Denver will close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children next year as enrollment has fallen in recent years, the college announced this week.
The Ricks Center, which serves gifted children as young as 3 years old, will operate for the 2026-27 academic year before closing, according to a letter DU sent parents on Wednesday.
“The University of Denver has made the difficult decision to close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 academic year,” spokesman Jon Stone said in a statement. “This decision reflects long-term operational and financial considerations and is not a reflection of the school’s quality, leadership, or community.”
The center, which is located on DU’s campus, was started in 1984 as the University Center for Gifted Young Children. The program offers classes to students in preschool through eighth grade, according to the website.
The program, along with other public K-12 schools in the state, has experienced declining enrollment in recent years. The center enrolled 142 students for the 2025-26 academic year, which is down from 200 pupils four years ago.
The center will hold a meeting about the pending closure on March 6 for parents.
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