The Denver Nuggets’ margin for error in the competitive Western Conference is razor-thin – which is why Tuesday’s encounter with the top team in the East is a pivotal one. The Nuggets host the Philadelphia 76ers as they look to both extend their two-game winning streak and try to make up ground in a crowded West race. The 76ers hold a one-game lead atop the Eastern Conference standings despite a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last time out.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Nuggets have the faith of the betting public as a 4.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds despite the fact that they have a dismal 9-13 against the spread record at Ball Arena this season. Just over 70 per cent of Sports Interaction bettors are siding with the home team, but that might change when the rest of the betting public learns that the Nuggets are just 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games against the Sixers. Philadelphia is also on an ATS heater, having gone 9-2-1 in its last 12 games.

The total of 221 carries -110 odds on both the Over and the Under – and there’s no mistaking where the public money is going. A whopping 88 per cent of Sports Interaction participants are leaning toward the O221, which isn’t surprising when you consider that Philadelphia is 24-22 O/U for the year while the Nuggets are 27-18-1. But the 76ers have trended in the opposite direction since losing Joel Embiid, going 5-2 to the Under in their past seven games.

Philadelphia 76ers

It’s bad enough the Sixers are still without Embiid; the All-Star centre is nursing a bone bruise in his knee that has kept him out of action since March 13. But they’ve also had to deal with some ill-timed ejections from backup centre Dwight Howard, who has been kicked out of Philadelphia’s past two games due to a litany of technical fouls. With no other traditional big man on the roster, that has left the 76ers small – and vulnerable – in the frontcourt.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets’ star centre won’t get under Howard’s skin – but he’ll frustrate him all the same. Nikola Jokic continues to play at an MVP level in the Mile High City, coming into Tuesday’s game averaging 26.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists while shooting an impressive 57.1 per cent from the field. He had 15 points in just 29 minutes in a 115-103 win over the Sixers in early January, though Philadelphia had just seven available players for that one.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win 76ers vs. Nuggets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.45
Assists	Ben Simmons 6.91
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.57
FG%	Dwight Howard 58.7
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.62
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.35

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 28.09
Assists	Ben Simmons 8.83
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.55
FG%	Ben Simmons 62.1
Steals	Matisse Thybulle 1.33
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.45

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

Injuries

Philadelphia

Danny Green (SG)

Late June Calf - 11 / 06 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21

George Hill (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 01 / 06 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Wed Hand - 24 / 05 / 21

Tobias Harris (SF)

Ques Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Furkan Korkmaz (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21

Shake Milton (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 15 / 05 / 21

Danny Green (SG)

Ques Sun Hip - 15 / 05 / 21

Denver

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 09 / 06 / 21

Austin Rivers (PG)

Prob Sat Illness - 21 / 05 / 21

Paul Millsap (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Facundo Campazzo (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Monte Morris (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Tues Calf - 09 / 05 / 21

PJ Dozier (SG)

Late June Groin - 04 / 05 / 21

Zeke Nnaji (PF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Late June	Calf - 11 / 06 / 21	3-2	1-4	+ -
Green has a right calf strain, and he will be sidelined for two to three weeks.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Curry is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is likely to be in the lineup versus the Wizards for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 01 / 06 / 21	4-4	4-4	+ -
Hill is battling a left knee contusion, but he is projected to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Harris is expected to line up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Wizards despite an ankle injury.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	6-4	5-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Wizards in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Wed	Hand - 24 / 05 / 21	6-5	6-5	+ -
Curry is tending to a hand injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Wizards in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Ques Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Harris is dealing with right knee recovery, and he will receive a day of rest on Sunday versus the Magic.
Furkan Korkmaz (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Korkmaz is projected to take on the Magic on Sunday despite a right ankle sprain.
Shake Milton (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Milton is managing right knee soreness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's matchup with the Magic.
Danny Green (SG)	Ques Sun	Hip - 15 / 05 / 21	8-5	8-5	+ -
Green is dealing with a hip injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 09 / 06 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Porter Jr. is expected to take on the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference second round despite a back injury.
Austin Rivers (PG)	Prob Sat	Illness - 21 / 05 / 21	4-6	7-3	+ -
Rivers is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Paul Millsap (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Millsap will not take the court versus the Pistons on Friday as he will be handed a day of rest.
Facundo Campazzo (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Campazzo will be held out of the lineup against the Pistons on Friday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Gordon will not be available for Friday's matchup with the Pistons as he will be given a day of rest.
Monte Morris (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Morris will not be available for Thursday's contest versus the Timberwolves as he will be given a day of rest.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Porter Jr. will not take the court against the Timberwolves on Thursday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Tues	Calf - 09 / 05 / 21	6-9	10-5	+ -
Gordon is dealing with right calf tightness, but he is likely to suit up for Tuesday's battle against the Hornets.
PJ Dozier (SG)	Late June	Groin - 04 / 05 / 21	8-10	10-8	+ -
Dozier is sidelined with a right adductor strain, and he is not expected to be available until the later part of June.
Zeke Nnaji (PF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21	9-11	11-9	+ -
Nnaji has sat out the previous four games due to a sprained left ankle, and it is up in the air if he will take the court versus the Nets on Saturday.