Inter-conference contenders clash Monday night for some NBA on NBC, as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Denver Nuggets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Nuggets (23–12, 4th West) have lost two out of three games without the injured Nikola Jokic, entering on the second leg of a back-to-back after taking a double-digit beatdown from the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon. They’ll also be without Jamal Murray (Ankle), Aaron Gordon (Hamstring), Jonas Valanciunas (Calf), Cam Johnson (Knee), Christian Braun (Ankle), and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Illness) Monday night.
Meanwhile, the Sixers (19–14, 5th East) have balanced out a recent three-game skid with three straight wins, coming off an 11-point win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Star big man Joel Embiid is listed as probable for Monday’s contest, a worrying sign for the shorthanded Nuggets.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Philadelphia enters as a whopping 14.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Denver is listed as a +600 underdog. The game’s total is set at 227 points.
Let’s dive into the top player prop bets for Monday’s matchup between the Nuggets and 76ers.
Nuggets vs. 76ers Best Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Joel Embiid Over 33.5 Points + Rebounds (-123)
Joel Embiid is listed as probable for Monday’s contest, and if he takes the court, he’s nearly certain to stuff the stat sheet. The former MVP would be facing a Nuggets squad without star big man Nikola Jokic — as well as his backup, Jonas Valanciunas.
While injuries have slowed him down in recent years, Embiid has still averaged 22.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Since Dec. 1, his numbers have climbed to 25.4 points and 7.9 a night, good for 33.3 combined points and rebounds per game. He put up 36 points plus rebounds in the winning effort against the Knicks on Saturday.
Facing the understaffed Nuggets, whose current frontcourt comprises the 6-foot-7 Spencer Jones and 6-foot-9 DaRon Holmes II, count on the star seven-footer to control the paint and comfortably clear 33.5 combined points and rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey 30+ Points (+117)
Philadelphia’s superstar isn’t the former MVP, nor is it the nine-time All-Star who netted one of the most significant trade hauls of all time. It’s Tyrese Maxey, the sixth-year guard out of Kentucky who’s emerged as one of the NBA’s most formidable scoring threats.
Maxey is averaging 31.1 points per game, the third-most in the NBA, and has scored 34 or more points in three straight games.
Denver has struggled to defend all season, owning the NBA’s 21st-ranked defensive rating. Rolling out their JV team on Monday, don’t expect the Nuggets to offer much resistance against the surging Maxey.
Peyton Watson Over 1.5 Threes (-106)
With several starters sidelined, the Nuggets will likely lean on 23-year-old guard Peyton Watson to shoulder the load on offense. In a career-high 27.9 minutes per game this season, the former UCLA standout is averaging 11.8 points while making just over one three per game at 35.6% accuracy.
While Watson isn’t a prototypical perimeter threat, he’s shown the ability to convert from deep when given volume — highlighted by a 5-for-12 performance against the Grizzlies on Nov. 24. With Denver shorthanded and potentially playing from behind on Monday night, Watson should see plenty of chances to let it fly from beyond the arc.
SGP Odds: +625
