Nuggets vs. 76ers Odds
| Nuggets Odds | +3.5 |
| 76ers Odds | -3.5 |
| Over/Under | 231.5 |
| Time | 3 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here. | |
The Denver Nuggets will finish up a three-game road trip on Saturday afternoon with a stop in the City of Brotherly Love to take on the 76ers.
Denver comes into this matchup having split the first two games of its road trip, but having also won eight of its past 10 games. As a result, the Nuggets are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 34-15 record.
The 76ers have also found a lot of success recently and won their sixth consecutive game when they defeated the Nets 137-133 on Wednesday.
The highlight of this matchup will be the battle down low, as Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid will look to propel their teams to the win while also possibly gaining ground over the other in the MVP race. Here are the odds and a betting prediction for the Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers.
Denver Nuggets
After getting bounced by the Warriors in the first round of last year's playoffs, the Denver Nuggets are eager to avenge that loss and compete for a spot in the NBA Finals.
The biggest reason why the Nuggets are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference is their talent and depth on the offensive end of the floor. Through 49 games, the Nuggets have seven players averaging at least 11 points per game, which has simultaneously led to Denver posting the second-best Offensive Rating in the NBA (117.2).
In their most recent 10 games, that rating has stayed about the same (117.5), but Denver's improvements on the defensive end have put it head and shoulders above the rest of the conference.
According to NBA.com, the Nuggets own the 14th-best Defensive Rating (113.0), but in their past 10 games that rating has improved to 109.0. In that 10-game stretch, opponents are shooting just 30.3% from behind the arc against Denver, further proof this team is controlling both ends of the floor.
The only issue facing Denver is the injury report. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown are all listed as a game-time decision. Jokic and Caldwell-Pope are both probable, but Murray and Brown are truly questionable to play.
Philadelphia 76ers
Not only have the 76ers won six straight games, but they're 19-4 since December 9, 2022 — a dominant stretch of basketball.
Prior to that 23-game stretch, the 76ers were 12-12 and weren't looking like the Finals contenders many believed they could be prior to the start of the season.
However, the 76ers are no longer mediocre and have suddenly become the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia's resurgence can be attributed to a league-leading 119.7 Offensive Rating over the past 23 games. During that stretch, Joel Embiid has led the way, averaging 34.6 points per game.
However, Philadelphia has also given up some ground on the defensive end of the floor in that stretch. When Philadelphia was just 12-12 it owned the fourth-best Defensive Rating in the NBA (109.5), but in its past 23 games, that rating has risen to 113.2.
Philadelphia can go shot for shot with anyone in the league, but the 76ers can also be exposed on the defensive end of the floor.
Nuggets-76ers Pick
Saturday's matchup between the 76ers and Nuggets could be a preview of the NBA Finals, and I think the Nuggets are going to be the team to take control.
Murray is listed as questionable, but it's expected that he will suit up for this matchup because he reportedly missed Denver's last game against Milwaukee due to "injury management". That is great news for a top-two offense in the NBA, one that can expose a 76ers defense trending in the wrong direction.
Back Denver to cover the spread.
Pick: Nuggets +4.5 |
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