Game: Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Nets +2, Wizards -2
Total: 231.5
The Nets have exchanged wins and losses over their last eight games. With Kevin Durant out of the lineup for the next several weeks, Brooklyn has to find a way to win games. Tonight, they travel to Washington where the Wizards are a 2-point favorite. The plus for the Nets is that it is an away game meaning Kyrie Irving will play.
The Nets (27-16) would love nothing more than to see the team that beat the Bulls last week show up tonight. Brooklyn absolutely pounded the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls 138-112 and they did it on the road. The problem is the Nets also lost by seven to Cleveland on Monday. That game was also on the road. That said, Brooklyn has done very well away from home lately winning 12 of their last 15 road games. \
The Wizards, who are 23-21 overall this season, have won four of their last five games. Don’t get too excited though as two of those wins were over Orlando (8-37), which has the worst record in the NBA. One of the other wins was over Oklahoma City which is 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference. Still, Washington has won more consistently than Brooklyn as of late.
Washington struggles against the number too. The Wizards have covered the spread only once in their last seven games and they are 1-4 ATS in their last five games at home. The Wizards have the propensity for playing up or down to the level of their opponent. They have beaten some really good teams – Milwaukee, Memphis, and Charlotte to name a few – but they have also lost some games – Portland, Houston – that they shouldn’t have.
The Nets are not used to being an underdog, but they have done very well when in that role this season. So far, Brooklyn has won four of the six games in which they were the underdog. They also excel on the road as mentioned earlier. In addition to winning 12 of their last 15 road games, they are 15-5 in their last 20.
The Wizards will have a difficult time trying to stop James Harden and Irving. Washington ranks 20th in points allowed and 23rd in defensive efficiency. The Wizards have allowed 114 or more points in six of their last nine games. Not surprisingly, the total has gone Over in nine of Washington’s last 13 games overall and in five of their last six games at home.
When these two teams get together, typically a lot of points are scored. Over the last ten meetings, Washington and Brooklyn have combined to average 229.1 points a game. In the three most recent games, that average total is 236. Brooklyn tends to give up more points on the road as evidenced by their last three games away from home. The Nets allowed 114, 112, and 114 points. The Nets also play at one of the faster paces in the NBA which is likely why tonight’s total is currently 231.5.