The Denver Nuggets visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center. Denver comes into the game on a three-game losing streak, sitting at 28-19 and fourth in the Western Conference. Philadelphia, on the other hand, has won four straight and sits 11th in the Eastern Conference at 19-27. The Nuggets dominated their last meeting on January 21, winning 144-109 at home.
Philadelphia has bounced back since that loss, with wins over Cleveland, the Lakers, and Sacramento. Meanwhile, Denver is looking to regroup after losses to Minnesota, Chicago, and New York.
Nuggets Preview – Can Denver Get Back on Track?
The Nuggets have struggled over their last three games, losing by an average of 15.7 points. In their most recent loss to the Knicks, Nikola Jokic had a quiet night with 17 points, six assists, and six rebounds. Denver also committed 14 turnovers, an issue that has plagued them over the past month.
Jamal Murray was a bright spot against New York, scoring 33 points. He hasn’t had back-to-back 30-point games in the regular season since February 2023, and the Nuggets could use another big night from him.
Denver still ranks first in the league in field goal percentage (50.3%) but has struggled defensively, allowing 122 points per game during their losing streak. They’ll need to tighten up on that end to avoid another disappointing result.
76ers Preview – Can Philadelphia Stay Hot?
Philadelphia has turned things around after its blowout loss to Denver, winning four straight games behind the strong play of Tyrese Maxey. Maxey led the way with 30 points and eight assists in their 117-104 win over Sacramento on Wednesday.
The Sixers have been without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (finger), but Maxey has stepped up, averaging 27.1 points per game this season. The team’s defense has also improved, holding Sacramento to just 17 fourth-quarter points in their last game.
With the home crowd behind them, Philadelphia will look to keep its momentum going and avenge its loss to Denver from earlier this month.
Betting Prediction
Denver is favored by 9.5 points, with the total set at 234.5. The Nuggets are the better team on paper, but their recent struggles and Philadelphia’s strong play make this a tougher matchup than expected.
Maxey’s scoring ability and the Sixers’ improved defense should help them keep this game close. Denver may win, but the 76ers should cover the spread at home.
Pick: 76ers +9.5
