Barring one of them getting a surprise rest, the NBA’s two best centers face off on Friday night as the Philadelphia 76ers make their lone visit of the season to Denver in what could be an NBA Finals preview. The Nuggets are favorites on the NBA odds because the Sixers are expected to be without Ben Simmons.
How to Bet Sixers vs Nuggets NBA Odds & TV Info
- When: Friday, 9 PM ET
- Where: Pepsi Center
- TV: NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- Radio: SiriusXM
- NBA Odds: Denver Nuggets -5.5
Sixers vs Nuggets Last Season
The teams split last year, each winning at home. The one in Denver ended 126-110. The Sixers sat star center Joel Embiid, and Denver star center Nikola Jokic capitalized with a triple-double of 32 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokic sat out the final few minutes, leaving him two boards shy of the rare 30-20-10 triple-double. Jamal Murray was out for Denver. The Nuggets are 23-20 all-time at home in this series.
Why Bet on Philadelphia?
The Sixers started 5-0 and were the last team to lose, doing so 114-109 in Phoenix on Monday. They lost again on Wednesday, 106-104, despite the return of superstar center Joel Embiid from a two-game suspension. Embiid posted another double-double in scoring 27 points (5-of-16 FGs, 16-of-18 FTs) with 16 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one 3-pointer in 36 minutes. The 16 boards were a new season-high for Embiid, as were the 18 free throw attempts. The minutes were also a season-high for Embiid, who has only played 30 or more minutes in two of his four games.
Josh Richardson scored a season-high 24 points (8-of-13 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs) with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two 3-pointers. He ended up playing a lot of point guard after Ben Simmons (shoulder) left the game after playing just 10 minutes. Richardson was the sixth Philadelphia player to score at least 20 points this season. Raul Neto, making his return to Salt Lake City, provided a spark in Simmons’ place with 11 points and four assists.
Simmons Health
Early in the first quarter, Simmons called for the ball in the post against Royce O’Neale. He caught the ball, faced up and tried to barrel his way into the paint with a spin move. As he did so, his shoulder went right into O’Neale’s chest, and he immediately winced and grabbed for it.
X-rays on Simmons’ shoulder were negative and it’s being called a sprained AC joint. He’s surely not playing in this game and probably out at least a little while. An AC joint sprain can cost a player up to several weeks on the sidelines or just a few games. Neto could move into the starting lineup. His 11 points against Utah were the most he has scored since Nov. 28, 2018, while playing for the Jazz. It was only the 25th time in Neto’s career he scored in double figures.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 112.57
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.86
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.33
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.68
- Total Rebounds: 47.29
- Total Score: 107.14
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.78
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.70
- Free Throw Percentage: 67.96
- Total Rebounds: 40.14
Why Bet on Denver?
The Nuggets won their second in a row Tuesday, 109-89 over the visiting Miami Heat. Will Barton, who had missed two games with a toe injury, started and played 32 minutes, hitting 5-of-10 shots, 2-of-2 3-pointers and 3-of-5 free throws for 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
Jerami Grant played a season-high 30 minutes and hit 6-of-13 shots and two 3-pointers on his way to 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Monte Morris played 22 minutes off the bench and hit 5-of-7 shots for 11 points, two rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block.
Paul Millsap left with a head injury and didn’t return to Tuesday’s game, finishing with 10 points, five boards, three assists and a 3-pointer in 17 minutes. He suffered a nasty cut above his right eye and was bleeding profusely after butting heads with Justise Winslow. Millsap was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, but he’s expected to play in Friday’s game against the 76ers.
Gary Harris is not on the injury report and will play on Friday against the 76ers. Harris sat out the second half of Tuesday’s game after tweaking his ankle.
The Nuggets have shot just 58 percent around the rim this season, which ranks 25th in the league. While Denver ranks 11th in 3-point percentage, it also ranks below average in mid-range shooting percentage (37.7 percent). Furthermore, Denver ranks 12th in passes made per game and 18th in assists per game, which are down significantly from their ranking in those categories last season (fifth and second respectively).
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 104.29
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.28
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.80
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.98
- Total Rebounds: 45.29
- Total Score: 101.14
- Field Goal Percentage: 42.90
- Three-Point Percentage: 31.67
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.07
- Total Rebounds: 45.71
Sixers vs Nuggets NBA Betting Trends
- Road team is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings
- Sixers are 14-4 SU in their last 18 games played on a Friday
- Sixers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Denver
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of Philadelphia’s last 15 games played in November
- Nuggets are 14-5 SU in their last 19 games at home
- Nuggets are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games played in November
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver’s last 7 games this season
Expert Final Score Prediction for Sixers vs Nuggets
Sixers 103 – Nuggets 109
