Update: The 76ers are going to effectively punt this game, with Joel Embiid being ruled out due to knee soreness as a precautionary measure. The Nuggets are heavy favorites now at -13.5, and you can probably roll with them as the ATS pick. The total is 223.5, and you can feel good about the under on that number with Philly’s top three scorers out.
Embiid is out with left knee soreness, source says. Sixers training staff had concerns while watching Embiid during his warm-up routine and made decision for him to sit out vs. Denver today, sources said. Sixers are without Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. https://t.co/tWBqfQ6RPw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2024
Update: Everyone is in for the Nuggets, who are now 7-point favorites with the total coming in at 226.5. Denver as the ATS pick still looks good with both Maxey and Harris out, as does the under on the new total of 226.5.
Update: Maxey and Harris have been ruled out for the 76ers. The line is now Nuggets -6.5 and the total comes in at 224.5. Taking Denver as the ATS pick and the under on the total likely remains the best course of action from a betting perspective.
The Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 27. The 76ers (29-14) lost to the Pacers in their latest game, and the Nuggets (31-15) are coming off a 38-point loss to the Knicks.
Both teams could be fairly short-handed heading into this matchup. Jamal Murray (shin), Nikola Jokic (eye), Reggie Jackson (toe), and Aaron Gordon (shoulder) are all probable for the Nuggets. Julian Strawther (knee) is out. The Sixers will play without Robert Covington (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back), while Tyrese Maxey (ankle), Tobias Harris (illness), Mo Bamba (knee), and Marcus Morris (foot) are all questionable.
The Nuggets enter as 5.5-point home favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 228. Denver is -205 on the moneyline while Philadelphia is +170.
76ers vs. Nuggets, 5:30 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Nuggets -5.5
The Nuggets suffered an embarrassing loss to the Knicks in their latest game but their long road stretch is over, and they should pick up the pieces back in Ball Arena. If both Maxey and Harris end up sitting out, Joel Embiid will struggle to carry the offense as he goes up against his best physical match in the league in Jokic. The Sixers beat the Nuggets by five points at home earlier this season, and we can expect a reversal of that score here. Take Denver to win and cover.
Over/Under: Under 228
Both teams have been hit with the injury bug, and both teams have top-10 ranked defenses, which will make scoring a challenge for each offense. This will be the Embiid-Jokic show and they each find a match in the other, which could limit their usual dominance in the paint. I’m riding with the under in this matchup.
