76ers vs Nets Picks and Predictions: New-Look Brooklyn Slows Sixers

The post-Kevin Durant era got off to a good start for the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night as they beat the Bulls, 116-105. They’ll look to make it two wins in a row when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at the Barclays Center on Saturday night.

The Sixers got back in the win column with a 119-108 triumph over the New York Knicks on Friday night. Can they overcome the quick turnaround against a divisional opponent? 

Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for the 76ers vs. Nets on Saturday, February 11.

76ers vs Nets best odds

76ers vs Nets picks and predictions

This game is somewhat shrouded in mystery as of Saturday morning, with no official declaration regarding the status of new Nets Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges. They’re considered day-to-day while the league office continues to process the deal. 

I still feel confident enough in several aspects of this matchup to recommend the Under as my best bet.

The Sixers are 5-2 to the Under this year in games that comprised the second half of a back-to-back, including a recent 4-0 run to the Under in that situation. Those seven games have seen an average total of just 213.7 points, which is well below the consensus line of 224.5 tonight. 

Despite some nagging foot soreness that had Joel Embiid on Friday’s injury report, before he dropped 35 points on the Knicks, he seems good to go tonight. It remains to be seen if head coach Doc Rivers rotates any of his regulars out — that’s been the true cause of Philly’s low-scoring tendencies as a team in situations like tonight.

The Sixers have also played some excellent defense on quick turnarounds, coughing up only 105 ppg.

The Nets are still out of sorts despite the win over the mediocre Bulls, as head coach Jacque Vaughn keeps getting curve balls thrown at him by GM Sean Marks and his once-volatile lineup. Offensive chemistry isn’t born overnight, and Brooklyn will likely struggle to find it over a period of weeks, not days.

Expect the Sixers — 24th in pace (97.6) — to dictate the tempo of this game and ensure that Under bettors cash.

My best bet: Under 225 (-110 at PointsBet)

76ers vs Nets spread analysis

In addition to being stingy on defense in the second stanza of consecutive contests, Philly has also been rewarding its backers. The Sixers have identical 5-2 SU and ATS records on the tail end of a back-to-back this year. They’re also 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.

Oddsmakers appear to be baking in the perceived difficulty of this schedule spot for Philly into the spread, but those bettors taking more than a cursory glance at the matchup know they’re getting a generous line. 

If Johnson and Bridges don’t suit up for the Nets tonight, it will once again be Spencer Dinwiddie’s show on offense. Dinwiddie has notched at least 20 points in 10 of his last 12 games, but no other Brooklyn player can truly be relied on to reach that plateau in this spot. 

Cam Thomas has been a nice story for the Nets of late — coming from nowhere to drop 40+ points in three straight — but he came back down to Earth against the Bulls, shooting 3-for-16 from the floor, including a 1-for-6 mark from beyond the arc.

Thomas has taken a rash of free throws in his last four overall — knocking down 49 of his 53 attempts — but it remains to be seen how long opponents will continue to deploy this strategy.

76ers vs Nets Over/Under analysis

The Nets may have lost some star power this week, especially on offense, but it would be difficult to dispute that they got better on the other side of the floor.

Dinwiddie takes over at point guard for Irving, and he has him beat in defensive rating this year, 117.8 to 115.2. The Nets upgraded at power forward in terms of defense, too, as Dorian Finney-Smith has a 116.4 defensive rating this season, while Durant is at 112.6.

Brooklyn was already a difficult team to shoot against, as it’s third in effective field goal percentage against this season (52.5%).

The Sixers are third in ppg allowed this year (110.8), and a lot of that has to do with their outstanding perimeter defense. Philly is second in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage (34.6%).

76ers vs Nets betting trend to know

The Under is 4-1 in the Sixers’ last five games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Nets.

76ers vs Nets game info

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