Preview: Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets looking for seventh straight win
Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets this afternoon at The Well in South Philadelphia.
The Sixers (31-16), winners of six straight games, currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings, just 2.5 games out of first place. The Denver Nuggets sit atop of the Western Conference standings at 34-15.
The Denver Nuggets have won eight out of their last 10 games and will enter today’s matchup 1-1 on their current three game road trip. Their hot streak to the test against the Sixers, who are playing their best basketball of the season.
DraftKings Sportsbook: Bet $5, Win $200 INSTANTLY
- Sign up for a new DraftKings account
- Make Your First Deposit
- Bet $5+ On Any Sport
- Get $200 In Free Bets Instantly
Embiid Questionable
Joel Embiid, fresh off a win against Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets, is questionable for today’s game, but all things considered, I would bank on him suiting up this afternoon. Embiid was just snubbed out of starting in the NBA All-Star game and Jokic is a guy who has beaten him in two straight MVP races.
If Embiid can play, he almost certainly will unless Doc Rivers and company decide to air on the side of caution.
Read More: Embiid leapfrogs Tatum in Latest NBA MVP Rankings >>
For the Nuggets, Jokic is nursing a hamstring injury which has held him out of three out of Denver’s last four games. He’s listed as probable for the game today. Jamal Murray is also questionable with a hip injury and along with Jokic, sat out Wednesday’s loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown are both listed as a game-time decision. Jokic and Caldwell-Pope are both probable, but Murray and Brown are truly questionable to play
The Denver Nuggets Offense
The main reason why the Nuggets are the No. 1 seed in the West is because of their talent and depth on the offensive side of the court, led by none other than Nikola Jokic. Over the first 49 games of the NBA season, the Nuggets have seven players averaging in double-digits per game and their offense bodes the second-best Offensive Rating in the NBA at 117.2.
The Red Hot Philadelphia 76ers
After a slow start to the NBA season, the Sixers are clicking on all cylinders and have won six straight games to improve to 19-2 since December 9, 2022.
Over the last 23 games, the Sixers have the best Offensive Rating in the NBA at 119.7 with Joel Embiid leading the way, averaging 34.6 points per game during that stretch.
Still, the Sixers run into some issues defensively, and with the Nuggets high-powered offense on the menu today, Philly certainly needs to step their game up on that side of the court.
Assuming Embiid is good to go, and the Nuggets being somewhat shorthanded, I like the Sixers to win today at home in front of a crowd that will set the tone for the NFC Championship Game tomorrow across the street at Lincoln Financial Field.
FanDuel Sportsbook: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets
- Sign up for a new FanDuel account
- Make Your First Deposit
- Bet $5 On Any Sport
- Get $150 In Free Bets Instantly
Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers: 3PM – The Well – Philadelphia, PA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEY | TOTAL |
| Denver Nuggets | +3.5 (-108) | +138 | O 231.5 (-110) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | -3.5 (-112) | -164 | U 231.5 (-110) |
