Nets vs. Suns: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Nets vs. Suns Odds
| Nets Odds | -2.5 |
| Suns Odds | +2.5 |
| Over/Under | 221 |
| Date | Thu, Jan. 19 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
Tonight’s NBA on TNT double-header will conclude with a matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center. Entering play, Brooklyn (27-16) owns the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix (21-24) owns the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference. Nonetheless, oddsmakers are expecting a competitive game between these two short-handed teams, pricing Brooklyn as slim 2.5-point road favorites on the spread.
Brooklyn Nets
Durant OUT
Tonight will be Brooklyn’s fourth consecutive game without their leading scorer, Kevin Durant. After winning 18 of their last 20 games with Durant healthy, the Nets are currently riding a three-game losing streak, yet to win in his absence.
Per Cleaning the Glass, Brooklyn ranks in the 90th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 68th percentile in defensive efficiency with Durant on the floor this year, compared to the 5th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 81st percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
The Nets are 26-13 with Durant in the lineup this season, but only 1-3 with him in street clothes.
Who will step up for Brooklyn?
Per CourtIQ, Kyrie Irving (+5.3%) and Seth Curry (+5.2%) see the largest increase in usage when Durant is off of the court this year. In these situations, Irving is averaging 28.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per 36 minutes. Curry is averaging 19.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per 36 minutes. Expect both players to be heavily involved in the offense this evening.
Phoenix Suns
Booker, Paul OUT
In addition to missing Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet, the Suns are without two of their three most important players – Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Since Booker last played a full game on December 17, Phoenix is 3-12, ranking 28th out of 30 teams in Net Rating, having been outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions.
Since Chris Paul last played a full game on January 6, Phoenix is 1-4, ranking 29th out of 30 teams in Net Rating, having been outscored by 12.8 points per 100 possessions. In that span, their only win came against a Golden State Warriors team that was reintroducing Stephen Curry to the floor after nearly a month on the injury report.
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Suns rank in the 10th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 83rd percentile in defensive efficiency this season when both Booker and Paul are off of the floor at the same time.
Who will step up for Phoenix?
When Booker, Paul, Payne, and Shamet are each on the sidelines this year, Deandre Ayton (+4.9%) sees the largest increase in usage of any player on the roster. In their absence, Ayton is averaging 21.6 points and 13.0 rebounds per 36 minutes of action.
Since Paul last played, Duane Washington has scored 13 points and 25 points, respectively, in two home games, but is averaging only 12.3 points per game in three contests on the road. Returning home for this matchup, he could be another player who sees high usage in the offense.
Nets vs. Suns – Picks & Predictions
Though the Brooklyn Nets are yet to win a game since Kevin Durant injured his right knee, bettors should trust that to change on Thursday. In their first game without Durant, Brooklyn played the Boston Celtics tough into the fourth quarter, but a late-game dry spell on the offensive end of the floor resulted in a double-digit loss. In their most recent contest, Kyrie Irving was also out, leaving the offense with few reliable scorers.
Tonight, the Nets will have a rested Irving against a Phoenix team that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency across their last five games and 21st in defensive efficiency across their last 15 games. Brooklyn is likely to get the job done on the road in this spot.
PICK: Nets ML (-148, BetRivers)
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