The Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers enter Friday night’s showdown in Philadelphia with very different mindsets. The Nuggets (28-19) have lost three games in a row, while the Sixers (19-27) have won four straight, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup between these two teams.
The Nuggets cruised to a 144-109 victory over the Sixers in Denver on January 21st, prompting Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse to lament that his team “just didn’t bring it.” Since then, the Sixers have bounced back with notable victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Most recently, they rallied from a 12-point deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 117-104 on Wednesday.
On the offensive end, the Sixers have been led by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 30 points and dished out eight assists against the Kings. Maxey has been in excellent form, shooting at least 50 percent from the floor in six straight games, including a 28-point, 10-assist effort in the recent loss to Denver. He continues to carry much of the offensive load in the absence of Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (finger). Maxey is averaging a career-high 27.1 points per game and has nearly doubled his previous career best with 1.9 steals per game.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, are facing some adversity. They have lost their last three games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks by an average of 15.7 points. In Wednesday’s 122-112 loss to the Knicks, Nikola Jokic had one of his quieter games of the season, finishing with 17 points, six assists, and six rebounds. Denver struggled defensively and committed 14 turnovers, an issue that has been plaguing the team.
Jamal Murray had a standout performance against the Knicks, recording 33 points, six assists, and five rebounds. He hasn’t scored 30-plus points in back-to-back regular-season games since February 2023.
Friday’s game promises to be a thrilling encounter as the Nuggets look to snap their losing streak, while the Sixers aim to extend their winning run.
