Nets vs. 76ers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
-
Jeremy Perry
It might be the most important Eastern Conference game of the season to date – and as has been the case for most of the season, the Brooklyn Nets will be short-handed as they visit Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Nets and Sixers own identical 37-17 records to lead the conference, and have split the first two meetings in their three-game season series – meaning that this games could very well decide who finishes first in the East.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The 76ers are surprisingly stout favourites for this marquee matchup, even when you weigh in the fact that the Nets will be without James Harden (strained hamstring). It makes more sense when you realize that Philadelphia has been positively dominant at home this season, going 20-5 SU and 16-9 ATS. The Nets, meanwhile, have stumbled to a 3-7 ATS mark in their last 10 games and have covered just two of their previous 10 meetings in the series.
The total for Wednesday’s season series tiebreaker is on the high side at 232.5, and there are compelling trends on both sides of the decision. Brooklyn has been one of the best Over teams in the league at 32-22 O/U, while the 76ers boast an impressive 15-10 O/U mark at Wells Fargo Center. But Brooklyn has converted the Under in eight of their previous 12 games, while Philadelphia is on a five-game Under streak.
Brooklyn Nets
When asked about facing the star-laden Nets for sole possession of first place in the East, Sixers guard Ben Simmons offered a little bulletin board material, saying: “At the end of the day, there’s only one ball – and you got to play defence, too.” While the Nets haven’t had trouble sharing the ball most of the time, the knock on their defence is legit: they rank second last in the conference in points allowed (114.1), while the 76ers are third (108.3).
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers have two things going for them as they prepare to face Brooklyn for the third and final time in the regular season. Their defence has been particularly stout of late, as they return from a 3-1 road trip during which they held opponents to a minuscule 96.3 points per game. They also have the No. 1 center in the NBA in Joel Embiid, who averaged 26.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the previous two meetings between the teams.
BK
PHI