Unquestionably, the matchup of the night Friday in the NBA is Denver at Philadelphia. Both are title contenders – although probably no better than second-best in their respective conferences. It’s also a stellar individual matchup between All-Star centers Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Philly will be a NBA lines favorites.
How to Bet Nuggets vs 76ers NBA Betting Lines & Game Info
📊 Nikola is averaging 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. Only three players in NBA history have put up at least 20/10/7 for an entire season. #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/sw6EazKlmD
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) 8 de febrero de 2019
- When: Friday, 7 PM ET
- Where: Wells Fargo Center
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
- NBA Betting Lines: TBA
Bucks vs Mavericks NBA Betting Odds, Preview & Pick
Season Series
Denver leads 1-0. On Jan. 26, the Nuggets easily handled the visiting Sixers 126-110. Denver star Nikola Jokic scored 32 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 10 assists for the triple-double.
The 76ers gave leading scorer Joel Embiid the night off, robbing fans of a Jokic-Embiid showdown. Jamal Murray sat for Denver due to injury. Jimmy Butler (sprained right wrist) and Wilson Chandler (left hamstring tightness) also sat out for the 76ers, who got 22 points from JJ Redick and 20 from Corey Brewer but never led.
Why Bet on Denver?
The Denver Nuggets entered this week on a six-game winning streak and with the best record in West but have lost two straight to fall behind the Warriors. It was 135-130 in Brooklyn on Wednesday. D’Angelo Russell made six of the Nets’ 19 3-pointers, one game after they made only five as a team in their poorest shooting performance of the season. Nuggets coach Michael Malone yanked his starters in the third quarter when the Nets blew open the game.
Nikola Jokic triple-doubled in the loss in scoring 25 points with 14 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer. The Joker was efficient with 8-of-13 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws. It was his 10th triple-double of the year.
Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle) played 32 minutes in his return from a six-game absence on Wednesday, scoring 19 points with 11 assists, three rebounds, one steal, and two 3-pointers. Murray shot 8-of-17 from the field and the assists were his second-highest total of the season.
Mason Plumlee scored a season-high 24 points on 10-of-12 FGs and 4-of-4 FTs vs. the Nets, adding six rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Plumlee filled in for the second straight game in place of Paul Millsap, who is out with right ankle soreness. Millsap is being listed as questionable for Friday’s game. If he plays, Plumlee would likely return to the second unit and guys like Trey Lyles and Juancho Hernangomez won’t play as much.
Gary Harris (right adductor strain) has been ruled out for Friday against the 76ers. The Nuggets keep ruling him out early before games and it’s likely they may hold him out until the All-Star break. Malik Beasley has mostly been starting for Harris and had 17 points and just one turnover in 32 minutes on Wednesday.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 112.04
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.25
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.65
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.26
- Total Rebounds: 46.35
Defense
- Total Score: 107.07
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.07
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.71
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.08
- Total Rebounds: 41.69
Why Bet on Philadelphia?
This will be the debut of Tobias Harris for the Philadelphia 76ers. Early Wednesday morning following a home loss to Toronto, the Sixers landed Harris, who perhaps should have been an All-Star selection this year, from the Los Angeles Clippers for rookie guard Landry Shamet, forward’s Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala, Philadelphia’s own 2020 protected first-round pick and an unprotected 2021 first-round pick via the Miami Heat. That Heat pick could be No. 1 overall and was the real prize for L.A. Center Boban Marjanovic and forward Mike Scott was shipped to the Sixers, but they are just role players.
Now, Philly has perhaps the best starting five in the NBA outside of Golden State in Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Harris and JJ Redick. The Sixers are incredibly then after them, however. Harris is having his best NBA season, averaging 20.9 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent from the 3-point line. He’s a terrific shooter and can fit in tandem with any of Philly’s stars. Harris will be a free agent this summer, just like Butler and Redick. The Sixers are clearly going all-in this season.
Philadelphia should be able to have a minimum of two, if not three, of its starters on the floor at any one time, which can help mitigate those depth issues. The Sixers did add some depth on Thursday in trading former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz to Orlando for Jonathan Simmons, a first-round and a second-round pick. Also look for Philly to be active in the buyout market. The Sixers also got James Ennis from Houston for the rights to swap draft picks in 2021.
Redick was a late scratch for Tuesday’s game due to nausea but should play here. Redick has joined Robert Covington (2014-16) and Kyle Korver (2004-06) as the only Philadelphia players in franchise history to make at least 150 shots from beyond the arc in consecutive seasons.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 115.33
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.12
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.89
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.12
- Total Rebounds: 47.13
Defense
- Total Score: 112.11
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.22
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.51
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.90
- Total Rebounds: 43.26
Nuggets vs 76ers NBA Betting Trends
- Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
- Nuggets are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 10 of Denver’s last 13 games
- 76ers are 19-6 SU in their last 25 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games
- 76ers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points
Expert NBA Betting Prediction
Sixers hand Nuggets third loss in a row.
