Top scorers face off in Philadelphia-Denver matchup
Denver Nuggets (40-28, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (41-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: 76ers -2.5; over/under is 220
BOTTOM LINE: A pair of the NBA's best scorers, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, meet when Philadelphia and Denver hit the court. Embiid ranks first in the NBA averaging 29.8 points per game and Jokic is ninth in the league averaging 26.1 points per game.
The 76ers are 19-14 on their home court. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference shooting 35.8% from deep, led by Tyrese Maxey shooting 41.2% from 3-point range.
The Nuggets are 20-15 on the road. Denver is 18-5 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 13.8 turnovers per game.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The 76ers won the last meeting 103-89 on Nov. 19, with Maxey scoring 22 points points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Embiid is shooting 48.4% and averaging 29.8 points for the 76ers. Maxey is averaging 18.5 points over the last 10 games for Philadelphia.
Jokic is averaging 26.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists for the Nuggets. Monte Morris is averaging 14.7 points and 4.1 assists over the last 10 games for Denver.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 7-3, averaging 113.5 points, 41.8 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points per game.
Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 118.2 points, 45.4 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Danny Green: out (finger).
Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji: day to day (ankle), Aaron Gordon: day to day (foot), Vlatko Cancar: out (foot), Michael Porter Jr.: out (back), Jamal Murray: out (knee).
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