Tonight’s matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers pits the NBA’s premier 2023 MVP candidates against one another. We’re discussing Joel Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic player props ahead of tonight’s interconference matchup.
[cta id=445 type=cta]
Joel Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic Player Props
Odds and lines for Nuggets vs. Sixers and Joe Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic player props are subject to change prior to tonight’s matchup. Check the best NBA betting sites for updated numbers.
Joel Embiid SGP: 30 Points & 1 Three-Pointer
Embiid is a game-time decision, so keep tabs on his status leading up to tip-off. Should he be active – and it’s fair to hypothesize Embiid pushing to play in this one – he’ll have heavy usage. Maybe not quite to the 47.4% rate he garnered in the Jan. 28 win over Denver in Philly.
Playing in Denver is no cakewalk – evidenced by the Nuggets’ dominant home record. Still, Embiid is averaging 34 points over his last 10 – and that even includes a 12-point effort in a Sixers’ blowout win. Thirty points is a relatively easy wager to place, and even though he shoots more judiciously from distance, we like him to nail at least one three-pointer as well.
Note: We built this Same Game Parlay on FanDuel Sportsbook, combining Embiid’s odds of reaching 30-plus points (-380) with his odds of hitting one three-pointer (-196), for a -125 parlay ticket.
Nikola Jokic Over 21.5 Rebounds + Assists
It’s no secret that Embiid covets – and deserves – NBA MVP honors. And while we won’t cite any existing narrative of Jokic being extra motivated to win a third consecutive MVP, it would be naive to ignore the idea of him squeezing a little more juice for this one.
Jokic can dominate a game to a similar degree as Embiid, it just looks different. Case in point, Jokic’s season-high in shot attempts is 26, a total he’s reached once. Embiid, however, has seven games with at least that many attempts. That’s fine though, because Jokic can clean up the glass (11.9 over last 10 and 12.9 at home) and dish the rock with the best of them (9.1/11.1). We’re confident enough in Jokic and his support to wager the Over in this spot.
Nikola Jokic Triple-Double
We don’t encourage bettors to succumb to the temptation of chasing plus-money bets, and that includes this spot. Still, we’re going to make an exception in order to highlight it for those in position to roll the dice a bit.
Jokic didn’t have a bad game in Philly on Jan. 28, but it’s in a competitor’s nature to want to perform better the second time around – especially considering the Sixers snapped Jokic’s then-streak of four-straight triple-doubles. Double figures in points and rebounds is a given for Jokic – to the degree we’re willing to recognize “given” as an actual betting concept – and 10-plus assists is in the cards as well with a home-fed supporting cast converting his passes into buckets.
