76ers vs. Nets Odds, Analysis, Prediction

Philadelphia 76ers (54-28 SU, 50-34-1 ATS) vs. Brooklyn Nets (45-37 SU, 42-42-1 ATS)
When: Saturday, April 22nd, 1:00 PM (ET)
Where: Barclays Center, NY, Brooklyn
TV: TNT

Point Spread: Phi -2/Bkn +2
Total: 208.5
Money Line: Philadelphia 76ers -135/+112

Notable Injuries

76ers

• Joel Embiid (Out) Knee
• Danuel House Jr. (Questionable) Illness

Nets

• Ben Simmons (Out) Back/Knee

Recent Form

Heading into the game, Philadelphia is 54-28 overall. When taking to the road, Philadelphia has a mark of 25-16 and a win percentage of 61%. Currently, the team is 3rd in the Eastern Conference. So far, they are 50-34-1 vs the spread. In their matchup against Brooklyn, the Philadelphia 76ers have won 5 straight games and will look to push that mark to 6 in a row.

In their last game, Philadelphia defeated the Nets (102-97) as 4-point favorites. Tyrese Maxey led the team with 25 points on 58.8% shooting. The 76ers also covered the spread with the victory.

Heading into the game, Brooklyn is 45-37 overall. When playing at home, Brooklyn has a mark of 23-18 and a win percentage of 56%. Currently, the team is 6th in the Eastern Conference. So far, they are 42-42-1 vs. the spread. The Nets need a win in today’s matchup vs. Philadelphia to avoid their 5th straight loss.

In their last outing, Brooklyn was unable to come home with a win against the 76ers, losing by a score of 102-97. Mikal Bridges led the team with 26 points, but it was not enough to overcome their status as 4-point underdogs. The Nets also ended up with an ATS loss in the game.

The Historicals

In the most recent matchup between the two teams, the 76ers picked up the 102-97 win over the Nets. The 76ers’ margin of victory was enough to cover the spread as a 4.5-point favorite. So far this season, the 76ers have a record of 7-0 vs. the Nets. Over the last 5 head to head meetings, the 76ers have averaged 110 points per game compared to 97 for Brooklyn. This has led to an ATS record of 5-0 for Philadelphia. The over-under record in these same games is 2-3, with the teams combining for an average of 207 points per game.

Analysis

This season, the 76ers offense is averaging 115.2 points per game, which is 20th in the NBA. In terms of pace, Philadelphia has been playing at one of the slower tempo’s in the league, averaging just 97.1 possessions per game. Philadelphia’s 3-point shooting numbers are below the league average, as they have hit just 38.7% of their looks from deep. On average, the team gets up 32.6 3-point shots per game, placing them 14th in the NBA. Defensively, the 76ers have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 107.33 points per game. So far, they have done an excellent job defending the 3-point arc, allowing teams to hit just 34.56%.

Joel Embiid will not be available for today’s game in Philadelphia due to an injury, as reported on the injury report. This means that Tyrese Maxey will need to step up and take on the role of primary scorer for the team. This year, Maxey has been averaging 20.3 points per game for the 76ers.

This season, Brooklyn is averaging just 113.4 points per game, which places them 28th in the league. A major reason for these low numbers is the fact that they play at one of the slower paces in the NBA at just 97.8 possessions per game. Brooklyn heads into the game as one of the top 3-point shooting teams in terms of percentage. So far, they have hit 37.8% of their looks from deep. However, they are currently ranked just 21st in 3-point attempts per contest. On defense, the Nets are allowing an average of 112.12 points per game, placing them 18th in the league. So far, they have done a good job defending the 3-point arc, as teams are hitting just 34.46% of their looks from deep.

As the Nets prepare for today’s game, Mikal Bridges is their leading scorer, with an average of 20.1 points per game. This season, Bridges has a field goal percentage of 46.8%. The team’s second-leading scorer is Spencer Dinwiddie, who is averaging 17.3 points per game.

Betting Trends

• The 76ers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Nets are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• The Nets are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

I’m a bit surprised that 63% are betting the Sixers minus Embiid. Philly is still stacked with talent, but I think the Nets get a straight up win here and the Sixers win the series at home in Game 5. I’m betting Brooklyn at +2.