Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia-76ers Picks and Predictions January 21st 2025

Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia-76ers January 21st 2025

At 10:00 ET, the 15-26 76ers will travel to Denver to take on the 26-16 Nuggets. Philadelphia is currently on a six-game losing streak and are 13-point underdogs against a Denver team that has won two straight.

This non-conference matchup will be played at Ball Arena and can be seen on TNT.

76ers vs. Nuggets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets
• Where: Denver at Ball Arena
• Date: Tuesday, January 21st
• Betting Odds DEN -13, PHI +584 | DEN -866 O/U 228.5

The 76ers Can Win If…

The 76ers fell to 15-26 on the season after a 123-109 road loss to the Bucks on Sunday. Philadelphia entered the game as +13 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 232 points went over the pre-game line of 226.

Philadelphia went on a 10-0 run early, stretching their lead from 30-24 to 40-24. However, the Bucks responded, and after a 30-21 1st quarter, both teams scored 29 in the 2nd and 31 in the 3rd. The 76ers trailed 90-81 going into the 4th, where Milwaukee outscored them 33-28.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 37 points and 7 assists in their 123-109 loss to the Bucks, hitting 6 threes at a 40% clip. Kelly Oubre added 19 points, while Ricky Council contributed 13, connecting on 3 threes at 60% efficiency.

Philadelphia made 16 threes, shooting 35.6% from deep and 45.3% overall. Maxey scored 11 points in the 4th quarter, while Oubre added 10 in the 3rd.

The 76ers struggled defensively on Sunday, giving up 123 points to the Bucks. Philadelphia allowed at least 30 points in every quarter, with their worst defensive performance coming in the 4th, where they gave up 33 points.

Milwaukee shot 49% from the field and 37% from three, hitting 14 threes. The Bucks also got to the line 30 times, making 23 free throws. The 76ers allowed 7 offensive rebounds and recorded 4 steals and 4 blocks.

• Across the 76ers last three road games, the team averaged 103 points per game while allowing 114. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 0-3, while going 0-3 straight-up.
• In their last five games as the betting underdog, the 76ers have a straight up record of 0-5 and an ATS mark of 0-4-1.
• Over their last five games, the 76ers have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 0-4-1 vs. the spread.

The Nuggets Can Win If…

Denver improved to 26-16 on the season with a 113-100 road win over the Magic on Sunday. The Nuggets, who were favored by 7.5 points, covered the spread, while the game’s total of 213 points fell short of the 221.5-point line.

A key 14-0 run helped Denver take control, turning an 85-77 lead into a 99-77 advantage. They dominated the 3rd quarter, outscoring Orlando 39-25, and held on despite being outscored 23-20 in the 4th.

The Nuggets shot 51.9% from the field in their 113-100 win over the Magic, despite hitting just 7 threes at a 28% clip. Christian Braun and Nikola Jokić each scored 20 points, with Jokić adding 14 rebounds and 10 assists, shooting 77.8% from the floor.

Jamal Murray contributed 19 points, scoring 10 in the 3rd quarter, while Braun added 9 in the same period. Jokić also scored 12 of his 20 points in the opening quarter.

The Nuggets put together a strong defensive performance on Sunday, holding the Magic to 100 points on 37% shooting. Denver allowed 29 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up after that, giving up just 23 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters.

From beyond the arc, the Nuggets limited Orlando to 12 threes on 29% shooting. They also sent the Magic to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 12. Denver finished with 6 steals and 8 blocks in the game.

• Through their last ten home contests, the Nuggets offense has averaged 121 points per game while allowing an average of 113. Denver posted an overall record of 8-2 while going 7-3 ATS.
• The Nuggets have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.
• In their last five games, the Nuggets have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Nuggets to secure the win, with an expected final score of 130-97. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -13.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 228.5, and our model projects the 76ers and Nuggets to reach a combined total of 227 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Denver Nuggets: Preview and Insights

The Philadelphia 76ers are dealing with injuries and a six-game losing streak as they gear up to face the surging Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. This matchup is shaping up as a clash between two teams with very different trajectories.

Philadelphia 76ers: Searching for Stability

The Sixers will be without Joel Embiid, who’s sidelined with swelling in his left knee. Embiid, averaging 24.4 points per game, has only appeared in 13 games this season and isn’t traveling with the team. Adding to the challenge, Paul George, Guerschon Yabusele, and Andre Drummond are all questionable due to injuries, leaving coach Nick Nurse scrambling to find consistent lineups.

Despite the struggles, Tyrese Maxey has been a standout, leading the team with 26.4 points per game, 5.8 assists, and 2.0 steals. Paul George and Jared McCain have also made notable contributions, but they’ll need to step up even more in Embiid’s absence. Nick Nurse remains optimistic, saying, “We’ll figure it out day by day until we get some semblance of regular lineups.”

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Denver Nuggets: Gaining Momentum

The Nuggets have turned things around after a slow start, winning six of their last seven games, including impressive road victories in Miami and Orlando. Nikola Jokic is having an MVP-worthy season, ranking third in the NBA in scoring with 30.1 points per game, third in rebounding at 13.2, and second in assists with 9.9. He also averages 1.8 steals, showcasing his all-around brilliance.

Jamal Murray, who had a slow start to the season, has regained his form. He’s averaging 20.1 points per game and recently put together a three-game stretch with an average of 32.3 points. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon have been strong supporting players, adding 18.2 and 13.3 points per game, respectively. Coach Michael Malone has expressed unwavering confidence in Murray, saying, “We paid him because we believe in him.”

Key Matchup Themes

The Sixers’ struggles stem from their reliance on a depleted roster and their inability to close out games. Tyrese Maxey will need to carry the load, and the bench must rise to the occasion against one of the league’s most formidable teams. Meanwhile, the Nuggets, led by Jokic and a balanced offensive lineup, are firing on all cylinders. With Murray back in form, they’ve become even harder to stop.

What to Expect

Philadelphia will need stellar performances from Maxey and others to stay competitive, but without Embiid, they’ll have a hard time slowing down Jokic. On the other side, Denver’s momentum and depth make them heavy favorites. They’re poised to capitalize on the Sixers’ injury troubles and defensive lapses.

Conclusion

The 76ers are facing a tough task against a red-hot Denver team led by MVP contender Nikola Jokic. Can Tyrese Maxey and the shorthanded Sixers rise to the occasion, or will the Nuggets continue their winning streak? This matchup sets the stage for an intriguing rematch on January 31 in Philadelphia, but for now, all eyes are on Tuesday night.