Nets vs. 76ers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Nets vs. 76ers Odds
| Nets Odds | *+5.5 |
| 76ers Odds | -5.5 |
| Over/Under | 226 |
| Date | Wed, Jan. 25 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. |
| TV | ESPN |
On Wednesday, ESPN’s NBA double-header will begin with a matchup between the short-handed Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. Ahead of tip-off, Brooklyn (29-17) owns the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, trailing Philadelphia (30-16) by one game in the standings. Tonight, oddsmakers are anticipating a 76ers win, pricing them as 5.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Brooklyn Nets
Durant OUT
This season, Brooklyn is 26-13 with Kevin Durant in the lineup, but only 3-4 with him in street clothes. In six games since Durant suffered a right MCL sprain, the Nets rank 22nd out of 30 teams in Net Rating, having been outscored by 2.6 points per 100 possessions. Notably, the Nets rank 28th in opponent free-throw attempts per game in his absence, struggling to defend without fouling.
Still, they have played strong team defense across their last six contests, allowing only 110.4 points per 100 possessions, which ranks sixth in the NBA in that span. In those six games, they have held their opponent to 112 points or less four times.
Who will step up for Brooklyn?
When Kevin Durant is off of the floor this season, Kyrie Irving (+4.8%) and Seth Curry (+3.7%) see the largest increase in usage on the Brooklyn roster. Missing their leading-scorer, Irving is averaging 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per 36 minutes of action, per CourtIQ. Curry is averaging 18.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per 36 minutes.
Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid listed as questionable
In 34 games played this year, Joel Embiid leads the 76ers in scoring and on the glass, averaging 33.6 points 9.8 rebounds per contest. Per Cleaning the Glass, Philadelphia ranks in the 81st percentile in offensive efficiency and the 93rd percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the floor this season, compared to the 46th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 32nd percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Who will step up for Philadelphia if Embiid doesn’t play?
Per CourtIQ, James Harden (+5.9%) sees the largest increase of any player on the 76ers roster this season when Embiid is not on the floor. In a sample size of 414 minutes, Harden is averaging 27.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per 36 minutes of action in these spots. Notably, in his last five games with Embiid on the shelf, Harden has totaled 17, 10, 8, 11, and 11 assists, respectively.
Nets vs. 76ers – Picks & Predictions
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Brooklyn Nets rank in the 10th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 77th percentile in defensive efficiency when Kevin Durant is on the sidelines this season. Tonight, they will play a Philadelphia 76ers team that ranks 24th out of 30 teams in pace this year, averaging fewer than 100 possessions per game.
Assuming Joel Embiid suits-up for the 76ers, this is likely to be a contest that is played primarily in the half-court, with Philadelphia looking to get to the charity stripe against Brooklyn’s undisciplined defense near the rim. Expect a slow pace between these two teams and for the defensive intensity to be high enough to keep this matchup under the total currently available on the market.
PICK: Under 226 (-110, Wynn)
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