It's another loaded NBA schedule on Saturday as we head towards the All-Star break. Teams with title aspirations in both conferences will go head-to-head when the Philadelphia 76ers (31-16) host the Denver Nuggets (34-15). Philadelphia rides a six-game winning streak into the weekend and is up to second in the Eastern Conference, though Joel Embiid (foot) is questionable for this one. Denver is on top of the West after 20 wins in its last 24 games. However, the Nuggets have dropped two of three while battling injury issues.
Tipoff for this marquee NBA matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where the Sixers have actually lost two of their last four games. The latest 76ers vs. Nuggets odds from Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as the 3.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 231.5. Before making any Nuggets vs. 76ers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 15 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 47-22 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Nuggets vs. Sixers:
- Nuggets vs. 76ers spread: 76ers -3.5
- Nuggets vs. 76ers over/under: 231.5 points
- Nuggets vs. 76ers money line: 76ers -170, Nuggets +143
- DEN: The Nuggets are 10-13 against the spread in road games
- PHI: The 76ers are 15-9-1 against the spread in home games
- Nuggets vs. 76ers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Denver has been banged up of late, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (wrist), Bruce Brown (knee) and Michael Porter Jr. (personal) all joining Nikola Jokic (hamstring) and Jamal Murray (hip) on the NBA injury report. However, Jokic and Caldwell-Pope are both likely back in the fold on Saturday with probable designations. Brown, Porter and Murray all could be in the equation as well with questionable status.
Jokic is the most critical element to Denver's success as the back-to-back reigning NBA MVP is averaging 25.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game while shooting a career-best 62.9% from the floor. Jokic has missed three of the last four games but he's finished with a triple-double in each of the last four contests he has been able to play.
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia is the superior defensive team in this matchup, and the Sixers are out-scoring opponents by 5.9 points per 100 possessions at Wells Fargo Center this season. The Sixers are allowing only 111.3 points per 100 possessions on defense, a top-eight mark in the NBA, and Philadelphia is in the top three of the league in 3-pointers allowed (11.3 per game) and 3-point accuracy allowed (34.5%). Doc Rivers' team forces 15.4 turnovers per game on defense, and the 76ers are in the top ten of the league in assists allowed (24.1 per game) and points allowed in the paint (48.3 per game).
On offense, Philadelphia is equally dynamic, posting a top-five mark in efficiency with 115.4 points per 100 possessions. The 76ers are shooting 48.2% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range this season, and Philadelphia sits atop the league in free throw accuracy (83.0%). Philadelphia is above-average in free throw creation (24.2 per game), and the 76ers earn edges in the possession battle when it comes to ball security. The 76ers are committing only 14.0 turnovers per game, and Philadelphia averages only 6.7 live-ball turnovers per contest.
How to make Nuggets vs. 76ers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 241 points. The model also says one side of the spread had all the value. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins 76ers vs. Nuggets? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
