The NBA clash between the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16 at Wells Fargo Center, with tip-off set for 7:30 PM ET. For this game, the Sixers are favored to win.
With a record of 25-13 this season, the Sixers have proven themselves to be strong contenders in the NBA. In their games, the 76ers have managed to score an average of 119.8 points while securing 43.9 rebounds each time they play.
Meanwhile, Denver enters this matchup with a record of 28-13, making them a formidable opponent for Philadelphia. For this season, the Nuggets have an impressive 13th place ranking in points per game scored (116.2) and fourth place in points conceded per game (111). Denver averages an impressive 29.7 assists per game and keeps their offense effective.
Players to watch out for
The Sixers boast a formidable lineup with several standout players to keep a close eye on. Centerpiece of the team, Joel Embiid, delivers an outstanding performance this season, averaging an impressive 34.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Tyrese Maxey is another player making waves for the Sixers, with notable averages of 26.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. Defensively, he contributes with an average of 1 steal and 0.6 blocks per game.
Tobias Harris adds to Philadelphia's offensive arsenal, maintaining solid numbers with 17.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Turning to the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic stands out as a top performer. Averaging 25.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game, Jokic maintains impressive shooting percentages both from the field (58.2 percent) and beyond the arc (35 percent).
Michael Porter Jr. contributes significantly with 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Lastly, Aaron Gordon brings a balanced game with 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Injury list
The NBA matchup between Philadelphia and Denver promises an exciting showdown, with both teams boasting strong offensive and defensive capabilities.
The 76ers are monitoring several players on the injury list, including De'Anthony Melton, Robert Covington, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Mohamed Bamba, and Jaden Springer. Melton is expected to be out for at least a week due to a lingering back injury. The team will decide whether he can play after that.
“He played and he was OK,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Monday. “He could’ve continued playing. He wasn’t quite as effective or as mobile as we like. And we think it’s something we can fix for a little bit better longer-term return.”
“So there’s a little issue there. He could play — probably not 100 percent, not that close to that — but he could be out there and wouldn’t probably hurt it any more.”
Meanwhile, the latest update showed that the Nuggets are also monitoring Vlatko Cancar, Julian Strawther, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Jokic, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Aaron Gordon.
Jokic’s appearance in the next game is questionable due to a strain in his left hip. So far in the season, Jokic has managed to proceed unscathed. Fans have been expecting him to go head-to-head with rival Embiid for the game with the Sixers. However, it remains to be seen whether Jokic will make an appearance at the match.