Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets Odds, Preview, and Prediction

Warriors vs. Nets Odds
| Warriors Odds | +3.5 |
| Nets Odds | -3.5 |
| Over/Under | 221 |
| Date | Tuesday, Nov. 16 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
On Tuesday evening, the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets will battle at the Barclays Center. Golden State enters play with the best record in the NBA, having lost only twice in 13 games to begin the new campaign. After a flat start to the season, Brooklyn has won eight of their last 10 games, and are one of only five teams with double-digit victories. Oddsmakers anticipate a tightly-contested affair in this matchup, pricing Brooklyn as 3.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Let’s take a closer look at Warriors vs. Nets odds and NBA betting tips for tonight’s matchup on TNT.
Golden State Warriors (+3.5)
Through the first month of action, there is little debate as to who has been the best team in the NBA. Golden State has a 12.7 Net Rating through 13 contests, which is 5.3 points better per 100 possessions than the Miami Heat, who rank second in that metric. The Warriors have defeated quality opponents such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls—erasing concerns that this group has simply beat-up on weak competition.
Stephen Curry has been sensational, averaging 28.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per night. Curry has received surprisingly consistent support from Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole as additional scoring options, with both players posting 17.2 points or more per night. Damion Lee, Draymond Green, Nemanja Bjelica, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Looney, and Gary Payton Jr are only a few of the names that fill-out a dominant supporting cast for the Dubs. Golden State does not appear to be a super team with only one elite player on the roster. However, General Manager Bob Myers has done a phenomenal job assembling a team that excels in all facets of the game. Golden State is a dominant team on both sides of the ball, and has room to be even better with the imminent return of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman.
Brooklyn Nets (-3.5)
During the month of November, only the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns have a better Net Rating than the Nets. Shockingly, Brooklyn is allowing the sixth-fewest points per 100 possessions over their last seven contests. Though this group does not have the most outstanding defensive personnel, a newfound commitment to the defensive end of the floor has been undeniable for this team in recent weeks.
If there is room to criticize Brooklyn based on their early season results, it is due to the fact that the majority of their wins have come against inferior competition. Other than beating the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd (in a game that Philadelphia lost more so than Brooklyn won), the Nets have a home victory against the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks as their only claim to beating good teams. The Nets were run off of the floor by the Milwaukee Bucks on opening night. The Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls have also handed Brooklyn double-digit defeats.
Tuesday night’s matchup with the Warriors will be a good test to see how good Brooklyn can be against a strong opponent. There are no travel issues or major injury notes for the Nets to use as an excuse if they fall flat this evening. Against one of the deepest teams in the NBA, the Nets will need production out of a second unit featuring LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, and others.
Warriors vs. Nets Picks
On the season, the Warriors have the best defensive efficiency rating in the entire NBA. Brooklyn ranks eighth, allowing only 103.4 points per 100 possessions. During the month of November, both of these teams rank in the top-six in defensive efficiency. Though both teams play at a relatively quick pace, a strong commitment on the defensive end of the floor should keep this contest relatively low-scoring. Bettors should consider a play on the under in this one.
PICK: Under 222 (-110)
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