The Philadelphia 76ers (15-26) and Denver Nuggets (26-16) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. EST at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Nuggets are 13.5-point favorites over the Sixers on the spread (Nuggets -13.5), with the over/under set at 229.5 total points. Denver is a -900 favorite to win outright, while Philadelphia is +600 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my 76ers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, January 21.
76ers vs. Nuggets Picks, Prediction
Spread
Most sportsbooks opened with a spread of Nuggets -13.5. The long favorite is not only an obvious sign to check out the 76ers injury report, but also indicative of how well the Nuggets are playing now.
The Nuggets' injury report is pretty clean, while the 76ers have Joel Embiid, Jared McCain, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, and KJ Martin all out.
Paul George is day-to-day despite missing the last game, and this game is priced as if he will miss again. Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele both missed last game as well and are listed day-to-day.
I'll explain how well the Nuggets are playing in the moneyline section, because this injury list was long enough.
Moneyline
The Nuggets are -900 for a reason. The talent advantage looms large, but so too does the recent dominant play from Denver.
In the month of January, they are top five in both offensive and defensive net rating. That is sign of a championship team, and the early-season Denver woes have certainly stabilized.
While the Nuggets' strength of schedule has not been too strong during their recent hot streak, the 76ers without Embiid and George is not an uptick in competition.
Over/Under
The total for this game is 229.5 currently and has had some weird early movement. It opened at 229.5, dipped down to 226.5, and then popped back up to the opening number. That is a ton of movement considering I mentioned how the spread hasn't budged at all as of this writing.
Perhaps the total has already reached its water. It is hard to cap the total here knowing Denver is generally a high-scoring team and Philly is so banged up and simply may not keep up. I would say this game is on blowout watch, which leads to my best bet coming from the prop market.
My Pick: Nuggets -13.5 (-110), Russell Westbrook Double-Double (+420)
76ers vs. Nuggets Odds
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -110 | 229.5 -110o / -110u | +600 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -110 | 229.5 -110o / -110u | -900 |
- 76ers vs. Nuggets spread: Nuggets -13.5
- 76ers vs. Nuggets over/under: 229.5 total points
- 76ers vs. Nuggets moneyline: Nuggets -900, Sixers +600
76ers vs. Nuggets best bet: Nuggets -13.5 (-110)
76ers vs. Nuggets Preview
Two things I want to revisit: The Nuggets' injury report is relatively clean, and I think this game is on blowout watch.
This is a terrible schedule spot for the 76ers. It is their third game in four nights going into the Denver elevation with a shortened rotation taking on too many minutes.
Disaster is on the horizon. I am fine taking some exposure on a long Denver ATS and playing the -13.5.
I am also interested in a Russell Westbrook double-double.
I assume Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson (both probable) play, but they will be the first players removed in a blowout win to get some extra rest.
Westbrook fits in both spots to gobble up rebounds and distribute as a playmaker. Obviously, Westbrook can reach this in a variety of ways.
76ers vs. Nuggets Prediction
If you are interested in a same game parlay, look to play Denver against the spread, and then combine that with the aforementioned Westbrook double-double prop for a payout of +750.
Or, once the injury reports become more clear, you could also choose a role player on the 76ers to have a game that far exceeds expectation.
Who on the Sixers may get a ton more minutes in a potential blowout spot with a shortened rotation? Ricky Council IV is one to let the ball fly, while Adem Bona to get a double-double is a reasonable bet as well. Keep an eye out for their prop lines.
Best Bet: Nuggets -13.5 | Russell Westbrook Double-Double
Same Game Parlay Picks
- Denver -13.5 (-110)
- Russell Westbrook Double-Double (+420)
Parlay Payout: +750
Nuggets vs. 76ers Betting Trends
