Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers face a tough test when they host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Here’s a complete preview, including betting odds and free NBA picks.
Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, March 14, 2022 – 07:30 PM EDT at Wells Fargo Center
The 76ers opened at -2 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) and FiveThirtyEight have them at -3.5, giving them a 63 percent chance to win. For support, we turn to USA Today's Jeff Sagarin's projections; he has the 76ers at -2.31 using his Rating numbers and at -1.18 using his eigenvector analysis. BetOnline set the total at 221 in their NBA odds board. Sagarin projects these two teams to combine for 214.3 points. Should we hammer the 221-point total?
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Jokic vs. Embiid
The Nuggets (40-28 SU, 30-37-1 ATS) have lost their last two games and they haven't covered the spread in four straight contests. Denver is coming off a 127-115 home setback against Toronto on Saturday, as 7.5-point favorites. Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Bones Hyland added 17 points off the bench but the Raptors outscored the Nuggets 34-16 in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers (41-25 SU, 32-33-1 ATS) haven't covered the spread in their last two games, which include a 129-100 beatdown at home against the Nets, as 4-point favorites on Thursday and Sunday's 116-114 overtime road win against the Magic, as 11-point favorites. Joel Embiid exploded for 35 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists and James Harden and Tobias Harris had 26 points apiece in the hard-fought victory. Philadelphia struggled in the first half but their stars came through late to avoid a disappointing setback. Will they be tired for Monday's game?
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How to Bet This Game
Everyone will talk about the Jokic and Embiid matchup as the key to this game and because it is a battle of MVP candidates but the player to watch on Monday is Will Barton. The Nuggets can't run their offense through a big at the end of games. Jokic gets gassed. They need Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. back because they have no creator if Will Barton (plus-0.6 Offensive Box Plus/Minus) is out.
The good news for them is that after missing three games with an ankle injury, Barton appeared to be back in his usual form on Saturday's loss against the Raptors, finishing with 16 points on 7 of 13 shooting and 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, five rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes. Jokic will have his hands full with Embiid at both ends of the court and the Nuggets won't keep up with the 76ers unless Barton has a big game.
The 76ers are in the second game of a back-to-back and they had to travel from Orlando after a very tough game
Final Score: Nuggets 111, 76ers 112
NBA Pick: Nuggets +2 (-110) at Everygame (visit our Everygame Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
