Nets Favored Over 76ers As Durant Poised To Return

The Brooklyn Nets (23-9, 14-17-1 ATS) host the Philadelphia 76ers (18-16, 15-19) at Barclays Center on Thursday in their third meeting of the season. The Nets are 6-1 in their last seven games while the 76ers have won three of their last four outings.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Nets opened the 3-point home favorite with the total set at 217 points. The OVER is 6-2 in the last eight meetings between the two teams. Brooklyn is 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games while Philadelphia is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 contests.

Philadelphia News & Notes

The 76ers picked up a 114-109 win over the Toronto Raptors their last time out on Tuesday. Joel Embiid was sensational again, dropping 36 points plus 11 boards to collect his fourth straight double-double. Tobias Harris (19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) had his first career triple-double while Georges Niang scored 19 points as well in the win.

Embiid has been on fire as of late, averaging 28.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in the month of December, and 33.6 points per game over his last five outings.

Danny Green (health and safety protocols) is out for Thursday’s matchup while Andre Drummond (conditioning) and Shake Milton (health and safety protocols) are questionable.

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Brooklyn News & Notes

The Nets won their second straight game on Monday with a 124-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. James Harden had a monster game with 39 points and 15 assists while Patty Mills and Nicolas Claxton scored 18 points apiece in the win.

Brooklyn has been without Kevin Durant since December 18 as the team’s leading scorer has been in health and safety protocols. Durant’s absence has allowed Harden to step into the spotlight, and the shooting guard has averaged 37.5 points in his two games since returning from health and safety protocols himself.

Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge (conditioning) are expected to return on Thursday while Day’Ron Sharpe, Kessler Edwards, and David Duke Jr. (health and safety protocols) are out. Kyrie Irving has also resumed practicing with the team and could return to the lineup as soon as January 5.

How The 76ers Will Cover

The 76ers have averaged 115.5 points per game over their last two outings, powered by back-to-back 36-point performances from Embiid. With Durant likely returning for Brooklyn, Embiid will need to have another huge game to keep this one close.

How The Nets Will Cover

With Harden playing his best basketball of the season and Durant poised to make his return, the Nets are back to looking like one of the best teams in the NBA. Even without having both of their stars in the lineup at the same time for the past couple weeks, Brooklyn is 6-1 in its last seven games. All signs point to a big Nets win on Thursday.

Computer Pick: Nets -5

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