It was the Nets-76ers series that got the weekend marathon of NBA playoffs rolling early Saturday afternoon. Host Philadelphia, the third seed in the Eastern Conference, vanquished the visitors 121-101, a scoreline that belied how close the game was at times.

Still, the final score appears to have influenced the NBA odds. There is even more chalk for Philly than before Game 1. Doc Rivers’ ensemble is pegged at -10 for tonight, with the total established at 213.5

Nets vs. 76ers NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

As an organization, Brooklyn hasn’t covered five of its last six playoff and play-in games. Granted, this year’s edition has virtually nothing to do with last year’s, but the stat still sticks out like a sore thumb. Going even further back, if we consider strictly real playoff games (sans play-in), the Nets haven’t won since Game 5 of their second-round series against the Bucs in 2021. They lost games 6 and 7, then got swept by Boston in the first round last year and have fallen in Game 1 this time.

As for the 76ers, whether they cover the spread or not in the postseason is a fairly simple equation. When they win outright they cover, otherwise they don’t. Don’t believe us? Check the stats going back to the first round of the 2021 playoffs. The last time opposite results occurred was in Game 1 of the first round versus Washington that spring. Including this past Saturday’s result, that’s a run of 24 games and counting. Will Philly win by 10 tonight?

Brooklyn Nets

Game 1 was a rare case of a coach not having to be too displeased with his squad despite losing by as many as 20 points. 121-101 doesn’t look great at first, but the story of the game was much more nuanced.

For one, Mikal Bridges shone brightly in defeat, scoring 30 points for his side, and regularly making slick buckets to keep Brooklyn competitive. He cooled off a bit in the second half, but there is no doubt he’s happy being the main source of offence on a club. What Brooklyn requires is for someone to join him in the fun. Nobody else was able to produce the same kind of output, although Cameron Johnson had a decent 18-point afternoon. Nic Claxton was surprisingly quiet. He averaged 12 points a game during the regular season yet only mustered five on 2-for-4 shooting in Game 1. His +/- was awful as well at -20. He needs to be more aggressive and clamp down on defence better.

Philadelphia 76ers

It felt like business as usual for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 at home. Most people believed they were the superior outfit and they went out and demonstrated why.

Philadelphia was one of the best defensive teams all season and when it mattered most in Game 1, they were so again. Philly forced no fewer than 20 turnovers from the Nets, which translated to a whopping 31 points. Not only does Brooklyn not have the offensive firepower they once did, but if the 76ers can cause them to lose the ball that many times, this could indeed be a short series. James Harden (23 points) vaguely looked like his old self, performing some step-back threes that rang of vintage beard. Tobias Harris’ 21 points eased the workload on Joel Embiid’s shoulders somewhat. The latter finished with “only” 26 points, not the eruption some fans might have hoped for, but when everyone steps up in the playoffs, good things happen.

NBA Playoffs Prediction: Who Will Win Nets vs. 76ers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

Injuries

Brooklyn

Nic Claxton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Edmond Sumner (PG)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Sat Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Fri Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23

Day'Ron Sharpe (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 26 / 03 / 23

Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Mon Illness - 20 / 04 / 23

Jalen McDaniels (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 19 / 04 / 23

Dewayne Dedmon (C)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sat Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Georges Niang (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nic Claxton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Claxton is taking a day of rest, and he will not suit up against the 76ers on Sunday.
Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Dinwiddie will be absent from Sunday's showdown with the 76ers as he is taking a rest day.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Curry is managing a left ankle injury, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
O'Neale injured his left knee, but it is anticipated that he will bounce back in time for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the 76ers.
Edmond Sumner (PG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Sumner is tending to a right hip contusion, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Finney-Smith is dealing with a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will face the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Johnson is nursing right knee soreness, but it is not likely to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Fri	Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23	2-4	3-4	+ -
Finney-Smith sat out the last game due to a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will partake in Friday's clash with the Magic.
Day'Ron Sharpe (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23	3-6	4-6	+ -
Sharpe is expected to take on the Hawks on Friday despite a left ankle sprain.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 26 / 03 / 23	4-7	5-7	+ -
O'Neale was absent from the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Rockets on Wednesday.

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyrese Maxey (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23	4-3	4-3	+ -
Maxey exited Monday's game with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Mon	Illness - 20 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
House Jr. is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen McDaniels (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 19 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
McDaniels is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Nets in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Dewayne Dedmon (C)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
Dedmon has an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 12 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
House Jr. has a foot injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sat	Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harden is managing a left Achilles injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harris is nursing a left hip injury, but it is expected that he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Nets.
Georges Niang (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Niang is tending to left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will partake in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
James Harden (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harden will not face the Hawks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harris is out of the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Hawks as he will be handed a day of rest.