Game: Philadelphia 76ers @ Brooklyn Nets
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: 76ers -5, Nets +5
Total: 209.5
Joel Embiid got everything the Brooklyn Nets had, but when the center faced multiple defenders, he just kicked the ball out to his teammates. The Philadelphia 76ers will attempt to take a 3-0 lead when their Eastern Conference first-round series resumes tonight in Brooklyn.
The 76ers aim to defeat the Nets for the seventh consecutive time and take a 3-0 first-round advantage with another win. Philadelphia could end the series Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn if it wins Game 3.
In the first round of the 2019 playoffs against Brooklyn, Embiid averaged 24.8 points per game over four games, and through the first two games of this series, he has scored 23 per game. He finished with 20 points on Monday night when the Sixers pulled away late for a 96-84 victory. In Game 1, despite facing constant double teams, Embiid scored 26 points as the Sixers won 121-101 on Saturday to start the series.
By grabbing 19 rebounds, Embiid not only matched his second-highest total in a playoff game but also became the seventh player to do so in a postseason game. The Sixers had a commanding 56-33 rebounding advantage in Game 2.
In addition, Embiid finished with seven assists, which matched his second-highest total in a playoff game. Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris were the beneficiaries of several of those Embiid passes. Harris finished with 13 of his 20 points after halftime, while Maxey finished with 18 of his 33 points in the second half. The pair connected on seven of Philadelphia’s three-pointers and 21 of their combined 37 field goal attempts.
To end an eight-game postseason losing streak, the Nets’ main issue on Monday was their inability to generate consistent offense. The Nets shot 37.5 percent overall, which is their second-lowest field goal percentage of the season. Brooklyn managed to score just 35 points in the second half.
Cameron Johnson led the Nets to a five-point halftime lead with 28 points, including a huge dunk on Embiid in the first half. After starting the series with 30 points, Mikal Bridges only managed to score six points in the second half and finished with 21 points overall on 6-of-15 shooting. Spencer Dinwiddie has not shot well as of late. In the series, he is 10-for-26, and in his last four games, he is 13-for-47, missing 16 of his last 18 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Nets are now 2-4 SU in their last six games and 2-5 ATS in their last seven. In addition to losing six straight to Philly, the Nets are 3-7 SU against Philadelphia when playing them at home in the Barclays Center.
The Sixers are 5-1 SU in their last six games and, in those last six games against Brooklyn, Philadelphia has covered the spread in five. The Sixers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games.
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