The Denver Nuggets (23-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) will face off in the NBA on Monday night. Tipoff from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on Peacock.
The Sixers are 15-point favorites over the Nuggets on the spread (76ers -15), with the over/under set at 228 total points. Philadelphia is an 83-cent favorite to win outright, while Denver is priced at 17 cents to pull off the upset on Fanatics Markets.
Let's get into my Nuggets vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, January 5.
Nuggets vs 76ers Prediction
- Nuggets vs 76ers pick: Nuggets to Win
My 76ers vs Nuggets best bet is on Denver to win outright, with the best price currently available at Fanatics Markets. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Nuggets vs 76ers Odds
(If you're unfamiliar with Fanatics Markets, read more here.)
Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers NBA Preview
The 76ers return home riding a three-game winning streak and are priced as heavy favorites against a shorthanded Nuggets team.
The market has pushed this line aggressively, with Philadelphia laying double digits on the spread and a steep moneyline, largely reflecting Nikola Jokic’s absence with a knee injury.
On paper, it makes sense: the Sixers have momentum and star power, while Denver is dealing with injuries and inconsistent results.
Philadelphia is coming off an impressive 130-119 road win over the Knicks, their third straight victory following wins over the Grizzlies and Mavericks.
Tyrese Maxey continues to carry the offense, pouring in 36 points at Madison Square Garden, while Joel Embiid added 26 points and 10 rebounds in a strong all-around effort.
Paul George and VJ Edgecombe provided secondary scoring, and the Sixers once again looked comfortable dictating tempo late in games.
At 19-14, they’ve stabilized after an uneven stretch and now return home with confidence clearly reflected in the betting market.
Denver, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games and comes in on the second night of a road back-to-back after a 127-115 loss to the Nets.
Even so, there were some encouraging signs in that defeat. Jamal Murray turned in one of his best performances of the season with 27 points and a career-high 16 assists, and the Nuggets got Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back from lengthy injury absences.
Denver placed four players over the 20-point mark, showing that the offense can still function without Jokic, even if the margin for error is much thinner.
Nuggets vs 76ers Picks, Analysis
This matchup fits perfectly into Evan Abrams’ “Fade the Hot Teams” system. Philadelphia checks every box as a home favorite riding a multi-game winning streak, with public momentum and recent results inflating the line beyond what the underlying matchup may justify.
The Sixers are being priced as if their recent form is guaranteed to continue, a classic setup where market confidence often overshoots reality.
Denver, on the other hand, is undervalued due to recent losses and Jokić’s absence, but the Nuggets are getting healthier elsewhere and have shown they can still generate offense.
In these situations, the system looks to capitalize on regression and potential complacency from the hot home team by backing the discounted road side.
With Philadelphia priced at a premium and Denver catching generous odds, the value lies with the underdog.
Nuggets vs 76ers Betting Prediction
- Nuggets to Win
76ers vs Nuggets Betting Trends
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