The Brooklyn Nets travel to the Nation’s Capital to take on the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Brooklyn lost at Cleveland the last time out in their first game without Kevin Durant who is expected to miss at least one month with a sprained MCL. The Nets are just 4-6 in their last 10 games played but are still 27-16 on the season and top of the Atlantic Division team standings and 3rd in the East but just one-half game behind leaders Chicago.
Washington has won four out of its last five games played and is coming off a statement 117-98 win over the 76ers. The Wizards are currently 23-21 on the season and they are in third place in the Southeast division team standings and 8th in the East but just five games behind the Bulls. The Wizards are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played.
The Nets fought hard but came up short against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last game. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists while James Harden added 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds and Patty Mills scored 11 points on 3-8 three-point shooting.
Brooklyn ranks 6th in the NBA in scoring at 111.6 points per game this season. They are 12th off the glass at 45.3 boards grabbed per contest and 6th in passing at 25.7 assists per game. The Nets are 19th overall in scoring defense at 109.2 points per game allowed this season.
Washington is coming off a huge win over the Sixers and has won four out of their last five. In their last game, Kyle Kuzma had a massive double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 14 points. Montrezl Harrell led the way with 18 points while also grabbing 7 rebounds and Bradley Beal made his return by scoring 13 points on 5-12 shooting.
The Wizards rank 17th in scoring at 108.0 points per game scored this season. They are 18th in rebounding at 44.4 boards grabbed per contest and 15th in passing at 24.0 assists per game. Washington is 20th in scoring defense at 109.5 points per game allowed.
The Nets are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played. Brooklyn is 12-3 SU in their last 15 games played on the road. The Wizards are 4-1 SU in their last five games played. Washington is 5-3 SU in their last eight home games.
Head to head, the Washington Wizards are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played against the Nets. Washington is also 9-1 SU in their last 10 home games against Brooklyn.
Brooklyn lost its first game without KD the last time out, dropping a 114-107 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Nets were 25-12 without KD last season and 16-3 SU without KD but with Harden and Irving available in the same game. This one’s going to be played in Washington so Kyrie will suit up for the Nets.
The Wizards have won four out of their last five games and are coming off a huge win over the Sixers. That said, this could be a letdown game for them after a near-flawless performance against Philly. Bradley Beat could be due for a big game after scoring only 13 the last time out in his return from protocols.
You have to like the juice on the Wizards because the Nets are struggling right now. However, when you look at what’s left of Brooklyn, they still have Harden, Irving, Patty Mills. Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge led the way. That’s a lot of experience right there.
I’ll take that experience against a Wizards team that is still growing together after adding several key pieces during the offseason. Give me the Nets at plus money odds.
Prediction: Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games played. Brooklyn is 2-6 ATS in their last eight games after an ATS loss, 2-6 ATS in their last eight games when playing on one-day rest, 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games when their opponent scores 100 or more points in their previous game, 1-4 ATS in their last five games against an opponent with a winning straight up record, and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games when allowing more than 100 points in their previous game.
The Wizards are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games played. Washington is 1-4 ATS in their last five games played at home, 7-9 ATS in their last 16 games when scoring more than 100 points in their previous game, 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games when their opponent allows more than 100 points in their previous game, 1-4 ATS in their last five games when playing on one day rest, 0-4 ATS in their last four games after a straight-up win, and 0-4 ATS in their last four Wednesday games.
With a 1.5 point spread, oddsmakers are looking at this game as a pick’em one. But the Nets cannot be judged by their loss against the Cavs or their last 10 games where they’ve won just four times. This team is still the odds-on-favorite to win the NBA title and they still have plenty of firepower on hand with Harden, Kyrie, Aldridge, Griffin, and Patty Mills. They have a good supporting cast that can put up the points.
The Wizards are playing well right now but they have their work cut out for them. This Brooklyn team wants to prove they can win without KD. I think Harden and Irving go to town here and the Nets are going to win this. I’ll take the plus points too.
Prediction: Brooklyn Nets +1.5
The total has gone over in six out of the Nets’ last seven Wednesday games. The over is 5-2 in their last seven games after a straight-up loss, 5-2 in their last seven road games, 7-6 in 13 games against opponents from the Eastern Conference, and 8-4 in their last 12 home games played against an opponent from the Southeastern Division.
The total has gone over in 9 out of the Wizards’ last 11 games after a straight-up win. The over is 4-1 in their last five games when their opponent allows more than 100 points in their previous game, 6-2 in their last eight games after an ATS win, 8-3-1 in their last 12 games played at home, 12-5-1 in their last 18 games when their opponent scores 100 or more points in their previous game and 17-7-1 in their last 25 games played overall.
Even without KD, the Nets were able to put up 114 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers the last time out. With Washington ranking just 20th in scoring defense this season, the Nets should be able to put up more points on the scoreboard than they did against the no.2 ranked defense of Cleveland.
The Wizards are ranked just 17th in scoring but the Nets are in the bottom of the league when it comes to scoring defense at 19th and an average of 109.2 points per game allowed.
These teams have combined to score an average of 229.1 points per game in their last 10 games played and 236 points per game in their last three head-to-head meetings. This has been a traditionally high-scoring matchup and even with Durant, the Nets still have plenty of scorers on board who can turn this contest into a track meet of points.
Prediction: Over 231.5
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