Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/30/2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, December 30, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 5 point favorites.

The 76ers head into this matchup with a mark of 15-19. They are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.1 as they are averaging 107.9 points per contest while giving up 109.0 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 19-16. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 107.3 points per contest and giving up 105.8, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends

The Philadelphia 76ers are 17-17-0 against the spread

The Philadelphia 76ers are 18-16-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 17-17-1 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 16-19-0 against the over/under

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

12/29/17 F Robert Covington Finger left last game, is "?" Saturday vs Denver
10/25/17 PG Markelle Fultz Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Ben Simmons averages 16.8 points per game in 36.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 7.6 assists per contest and 8.7 rebounds per game for Philadelphia. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 54%. Joel Embiid comes into this contest averaging 24 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per night so far this season for the 76ers. He pulls down 11 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 16 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 79%. Will Barton averages 14.9 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 3.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

The 76ers allow 109 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 25th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.1 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they give up 21.5 assists per contest which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league. Philadelphia averages 107.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.09 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 22nd in the league. They average 48 rebounds per game and 26.1 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 18.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets surrender 105.8 points per contest, which ranks them 18th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 20th with 23.8 assists allowed per contest, and 3rd with 40.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 14th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season. Denver is 10th in the league with 107.3 points per game this year. They are 10th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.54. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 45.4 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 23.4. The Nuggets are 10th in turnovers per game with 15.5.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 106.8, and their offensive rating of 105.8 is ranked 18th. They are 2nd in the NBA in pace with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 13th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA. Philadelphia is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 9th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.5, and their defensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

Who will win tonight's 76ers/Nuggets NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -5

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