After a strong start to the Toronto Raptors' 2016-2017 season, the Atlantic Division leaders have hit a bit of a road bump with losses to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and the team the Cavs beat for the title, the Golden State Warriors.

The journey doesn't get any easier for the Raptors with a five-game road trip that begins tonight in Denver against Jamal Murray and the Nuggets on TSN.

Toronto Raptors vs. Denver Nuggets: Nov. 18, 9:00 p.m. ET on TSN Network

Although the Nuggets (4-7) currently sit 10th place in the Western Conference, they have always proven to be a tough test for the Raptors (7-4). Toronto was barely able to squeak out a 105-102 victory in Murray's hometown debut at the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 31. The Nuggets are only 1-3 at home so far this season, but the Raptors have only beaten the Nuggets twice in their last 10 trips to the Pepsi Center. Raptors' rookie power forward, Pascal Siakam will have his hands full with the Nuggets' Kenneth Faried, who is coming off a 20 point and 15 rebound double-double in the team's 120-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Toronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings: Nov. 20, 9:00 p.m. ET

After Denver, the Raptors begin a California swing with a date against the Kings (4-8). Another team that is near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, they surprised the Raptors with a 96-91 victory in Toronto on Nov. 6. Ex-Raptor Rudy Gay burned his former team for 23 points and DeMarcus Cousins is always a threat inside the paint and will prove a tough matchup for Jonas Valanciunas and Jakob Poeltl.

Toronto Raptors vs. L.A. Clippers: Nov. 21, 10:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

The competition gets significantly tougher for the Raptors as they have to finish the back-to-back against Chris Paul and the first-place Clippers (10-2). The Raptors have won their last four matchups against the Clippers by an average of 14 points over the past two seasons, but with a healthy big three of Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin in the lineup, it will be a tall order on the second night of back-to-back games for the Raptors.

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Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, The Canadian Press

Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets: Nov. 23, 8:00 p.m. ET on TSN Network

Next up is the high-flying Rockets offense led by James Harden, who along with the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan is one of five players this season to score over 300 points in his first 10 games. Harden is flourishing under head coach Mike D’Antoni’s uptempo system, averaging 28.5 points per game and leading the league in assists per game with 12.8. The Rockets (7-5) live and die with the three-pointer and they’re currently averaging a league-high 36.5 three point attempts per game and are third in the league with a 37.4 per cent average from beyond the arc.

Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Nov. 25 8:00 p.m.  ET

The Raptors will finish their grueling road trip with a game in Milwaukee. The Bucks (5-6) are off to a mediocre start and the Raptors have owned the head-to-head matchup with 10 wins in the last 11 meetings against their Atlantic Division rivals. In his first year as a guard for head coach Jason Kidd, 6’11’’ Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a career year, averaging 21.1 points per game, 8.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists.