It’s still up in the air how many players will be available for the 76ers on Saturday.  After Seth Curry tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the entire Philadelphia team was placed in quarantine to conduct contact tracing.

These teams split the season series last year, with each team picking up a home victory, while Philadelphia leads the all-time regular season series 51-39.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Denver is a high-scoring team that gives up as many chances as it gets.  The Nuggets have hit the over in seven of their eight games this season and they’re 2-6 against the spread (ATS).  When it comes to this matchup, The Nuggets have gone 2-5 straight up in their last seven games against the Sixers and 2-5 ATS in those games. These contests are usually low scoring, with the over only hitting in three of the last nine games.

The 76ers enter this game with a perfect 5-0 record at home and have gone 3-2 ATS in those games, hitting the over twice at home and three times on the year.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are coming into this game looking to bounce back from a tough 124-117 overtime loss to the Mavericks on Thursday.  Nikola Jokic went shot-for-shot with Dallas’ Luca Doncic with both players putting up 38 points.  Jokic leads Denver in scoring, averaging 25.9 points per game, 11.6 rebounds and 10.9 assists.  The Nuggets have four other players averaging double-digit points on the year, Michael Porter Jr. (19.5 points), Jamal Murray (22 points), Paul Millsap (11.3 points) and Monte Morris (10.9 points).

Denver is averaging an even plus/minus on the year.  They sit fifth in league scoring, averaging 117 points per game, but 23^rd in scoring defence, giving up an average of 117 points per game.  The Nuggets are on a cross-country trip to get to Philadelphia, but they should actually have the advantage as the 76ers were forced to stay in Brooklyn after the positive Curry test.  Denver also has one of the best scoring offences in the league and they’ll be playing a tired team that will be missing players and has given up 258 points in their last two games.

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia has the best record in the league and looks like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, although they are coming off a 122-109 loss on Thursday, to a Brooklyn team that was missing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.  The Sixers fell into an early hole and by half time they never seriously threatened the Nets.  It was a surprising game from the best team in the league, that also came into Brooklyn off its best game of the season, shooting an NBA season-high 61.7 per cent in a 141-136 win in Washington.

What is obviously most concerning is the unknown status of their entire team.  Philadelphia didn’t learn of Seth Curry’s positive COVID-19 test until he had already been sitting on the bench for the entire first quarter of the Brooklyn game.  It’s unclear how many players will be forced to miss Saturday’s game, but it sounds like there will be multiple absences from the NBA’s top team.

Who Will Win Nuggets vs. 76ers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

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 28.45
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 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

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

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 28.45
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 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

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

Injuries

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

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

Injuries

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.

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.