This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
76ers to win (-140) vs. Nuggets -- PointsBet, 3:56 PM CT
Despite a near loss yesterday to the Magic in overtime, I still think the 76ers will come out on top on the second night of a back-to-back. Denver has played about as well as Philly all season, but I think Jokic will struggle against Embiid, and if Jokic has a below-average game, it'll be tough for the Nuggets to win. And despite looking poor against Brooklyn and Orlando, Philly's lineups with Embiid and Harden are still dominant, coming in at +15.5 points per 100 possessions.
Nick Whalen
Toronto Raptors -5.5 (-110) at LA Lakers – DraftKings Sportsbook, 1:00 PM CT
This is much more of a bet against the Lakers than it is a ringing endorsement of the Raptors. Toronto could be without Fred VanVleet, but LeBron James is also questionable for the Lakers, who come in on the second night of a back-to-back after getting smacked by Phoenix last night. That game felt like yet another low in a season full of lows for LA, which has now gone 28 straight games without back-to-back wins. The Raptors aren't the Suns, but they're plenty capable of winning handily – whether James plays or not.
