Both teams stand at 5-2, but the Denver Nuggets are winners of back-to-back while the Philadelphia 76ers have dropped their last two. It should still be an interesting match-up, though, as both squads are stacked in various positions.
Establishing a defensive identity
The Nuggets are continuing to make their presence felt on defense. They are currently fifth in points allowed per game (101.1) and seventh on defensive rating, thanks in good part to slowing the pace of the game (second slowest in the league).
Such style is a great balance to how well-rounded the offense can be. Nikola Jokic (14.9 PPG), Jamal Murray (18.9 PPG), Paul Millsap, Gary Harris (11.7 PPG), Will Barton (14.2 PPG), and Malik Beasley (9 PPG) are all talented enough that anyone can be expected to score 20-plus on any given night.
Michael Porter Jr., the team’s first-round draft pick in 2018 who missed all of last season due to injury, can also be in that list. In his debut this past week, he was able to score 15 points in 20 minutes.
Looking to get back on track
The Sixers have lost their last two games after opening the season with five straight wins. They were upset by the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, 114-109, courtesy of Devin Booker exploding for 40 points, and then followed it up by falling short of a late-game comeback against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, 106-104.
Joel Embiid is back full-time following a two-game suspension. The All-Star center is averaging solid numbers – 24.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game – but should look to shoot better moving forward as he has only made 46% of his shots on the season, a low clip for big men. He had a rough night facing the stout Jazz defense and went a horrid 5-for-17 from the floor.
Still, Philly’s road back to the win column will be easier than what other teams would have. The size of the starting five, which has four players standing at 6’8 or taller, is posing a big challenge to opponents. The talent within the main core is also a great mixture. Ben Simmons is a 6’10 point guard with elite court vision (6.9 APG), Tobias Harris (19.7 PPG) and Josh Richardson (14.6 PPG, 1.6 SPG) are two-way players that can attack inside and out, and Al Horford is a do-it-all big man that help take extra defenders off Emiid without clogging the paint. Horford, now a 12-year veteran, is still sprinkling good numbers on the stat-sheet (17.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.9 APG).
PREDICTION:
Last year’s season series went 1-1, but the Sixers’ win was when every key player on both ends played.
The Sixers win a hard-fought battle with Harris and Richardson doing the most damage. Embiid and Jokic’s match-up won’t be outdone, though.
