The Brooklyn Nets have gone 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games, but they’ve struggled on the road and face a Philadelphia team that’s lost twice at home all season. Having also lost six of its last seven against Philly, Brooklyn rightfully finds itself as a big underdog.
- Date/Time: February 20, 8 p.m. ET
- Arena: Wells Fargo Center
- TV Coverage: TNT, Sportsnet 1
- Sportsbook Odds: 76ers -8.5 | O/U 217
- Nets vs 76ers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Philadelphia is the league’s best home team, while the Nets have struggled on the road. Add in that the Sixers have won six of the last seven meetings and they open as 8.5-point favorites. With the Sixers possessing the league’s second-ranked defense, games at Philadelphia averaging around 212 points per game and the Nets sitting in the bottom half of league scoring, the total for this game opened slightly higher at 217 points.
Brooklyn News & Notes
The Nets entered the all-star break playing as well as they have all season, going 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games.
Brooklyn has continued to put up wins despite the extended absence of Kyrie Irving, who has sat out the last five games with a shoulder injury. Guard Caris LeVert has stepped up in his absence, averaging 24 points per game since Irving left with his latest ailment.
The one cause for concern is that this winning streak was built almost entirely at home, as the Nets were just 1-2 in their three road games during this winning stretch. They’re just 2-9 SU in their last 11 road games and facing a Sixers club that boasts the NBA’s best home record, the Nets will have their work cut out for them to continue their winning ways.
Philadelphia News & Notes
Has there been any team that can be more disappointed in being 13 games above .500 than the 76ers?
Despite the 34-21 record, which has it sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia is a very Jekyll-and-Hyde club, going 25-2 at home … and just 9-19 on the road. The good news is that Thursday’s game will be played in the comfort of Wells Fargo Center, where, in addition to the strong overall home play, they are 4-1 ATS in their last five home tilts against Brooklyn. Now the Sixers just need to find some consistency, which had eluded them going into the all-star break.
Philadelphia has won three straight games, but that followed a four-game losing streak that was preceded by wins in six out of seven. The Sixers are 6-1 SU and ATS in their last seven against the Nets, so things look positive for Philadelphia to notch another win and build on this current streak.
Betting Pick: Philadelphia -8.5
The Sixers are incredible at home, while the Nets have not been good on the road. It’s not a great matchup for the Nets, so I think Philadelphia takes advantage and covers at home.
- The UNDER is 5-1 in Brooklyn’s last 6 games.
- Philadelphia is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games.
- Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games.
