NBA basketball is returning to Canada for a special preseason game, as the Denver Nuggets take on the Toronto Raptors in Vancouver. This exciting matchup is part of the 2025 NBA Canada Series and gives fans a chance to see their favourite stars and new team lineups before the official season begins.
This game on Monday, Oct. 6, at Rogers Arena marks the 20th NBA Canada Series game since it began in 2012. It’s a great opportunity for both teams to test their strategies and for fans to enjoy top-level basketball. For the Raptors, it’s their first preseason game, while for the Nuggets, it’s their second.
🏀 A Special Preseason Showdown in Vancouver
The NBA Canada Series has become a popular tradition, bringing live NBA action to cities across Canada. Over the years, 16 different teams have played in 19 games, attracting nearly 360,000 fans. This will be the seventh time the series is held in Vancouver, a city with a strong passion for basketball. The last time a game was played here was in 2023, where the Raptors won against the Sacramento Kings.
🍁 Celebrating Canadian Talent
This event is also a celebration of Canadian basketball talent. The game will feature several Canadian players, giving them a chance to play on home soil. Among them is the Nuggets’ star guard, Jamal Murray. He expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s always an honor and a pleasure to get to return home to play basketball in Canada.” The game will be a homecoming for him and other Canadian players like RJ Barrett, who, along with Murray, represented Team Canada in the Olympics.
The Raptors have a great record in the Canada Series, winning 12 of their 14 appearances. They have won their last six games in the series, but interestingly, their last loss was against the Nuggets in 2016.
✨ A First Look at New Team Lineups
Preseason games are the perfect time to see how new players fit in with their teams. The Raptors will likely debut their new acquisition, Brandon Ingram, who joined the team late last season but couldn’t play due to an injury. Fans are also eager to see rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, who had a strong performance in the NBA Summer League.
The Nuggets have also made significant changes to their roster. They have added new players like Cam Johnson and Jonas Valančiūnas, and welcomed back a key member of their 2023 championship team, Bruce Brown Jr. With these new additions supporting stars like Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets hope to be a top contender for the championship title again.
