Nets vs 76ers Picks and Predictions: Harden Goes Nuts On Nets

Every time the Brooklyn Nets meet the Philadelphia 76ers over the next couple of years, the focus will be on James Harden and Ben Simmons. Tonight, the pregame drama may revolve more around Simmons, but after tip — all eyes will be on Harden — who has yet to lose in a Philadelphia uniform. Will his spurned former squad be able to surprise NBA bettors and deliver that first defeat?

Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for the Nets at the 76ers on March 10, with tip set for 7:30 ET.

Nets vs 76ers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

James Harden’s new squad opened as 4.5-point favorites, a number that has not varied by more than half a point at any book throughout Thursday. The total hit the boards as low as 229.5 before jumping to 231.5 and then 233.5 early Thursday morning, on its way to a midafternoon peak of 235.5.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Nets vs 76ers predictions

• Prediction: 76ers -4 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 235.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Harden Over 25.5 points (-104)

Predictions made on 3/10/2022 at 3:48 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Nets vs 76ers game info

• Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT/Rogers Sportsnet

Nets vs 76ers betting preview

Key injuries

Nets: Kyrie Irving G (Probable), LaMarcus Aldridge C (Out), Joe Harris G (Out), Ben Simmons G (Out).
76ers: Paul Millsap F (Probable), Danny Green G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 4-1 in James Harden’s five games in a 76ers uniform, and the Over is 10-4-1 in the 15 games since Harden last played for the Nets. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. 76ers.

Nets vs 76ers picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

As good as Harden and Joel Embiid have long been on their own, no one could have anticipated they would gel on the court as quickly as they have. In Harden’s five games with the 76ers, they have not only gone 5-0 straight up but also 4-1 against the spread. The duo has combined for 57.2 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 15.8 assists per game in that stretch.

There is no doubt Philadelphia is enjoying life following the Harden-Simmons trade. Life for Brooklyn has been a bit more complicated as Simmons has yet to take the court.

Kevin Durant is also only three games into his return, a stretch that has seen the Nets go 1-2 both SU and ATS.

Perhaps tonight is the night Durant finds his efficient scoring ways once again, but the 76er's defense has been above league average in any sample size this season, including ranking No. 6 in defensive rating since January 1.

If the length of Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle hassles Durant, he may struggle to match the middling — by his standards — 50.9% from the field and 36.8% from deep he has posted since his return.

Prediction: 76ers -4 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

No one will argue KD is a two-way player when it matters most, but his absence was not necessarily expected to doom Brooklyn’s defense. Yet it has ranked No. 29 since Jan. 1 and dead last since February 1. Its company in both sample sizes is Houston and that speaks for itself.

Unless Simmons drastically changes things, the Nets defense is likely to be their undoing this summer.

Obviously, the natural result of an offense starring Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Seth Curry combined with a defense struggling because of some of those same names generally leads to high-scoring affairs.

Brooklyn’s last six games — a timeline coinciding with the stress of Harden’s trade demands finally dissipating — have averaged 235.8 total points. The only two games to not feature at least one team with 120 points came against the sometimes-stagnant offenses of Toronto and Miami.

No part of the 76er's offense can be considered sometimes stagnant. Any game with scorers like Harden, Embiid, Durant, and Irving is ripe for an Over, but especially now that they may have properly split into pairings.

Prediction: Over 235.5 (-110)

Best bet

Tonight is all about Harden. How could the best bet not involve the bearded one, as well? He has scored 25 or more in four of his five games with Philadelphia and has at least nine assists in every game, with no L's taken.

Those trends create some obvious Over player props, options that increase greatly if pairing them with a 76ers win. But parlaying a player prop with a game result is not as correlated as you might think. If Embiid struggles or finds foul trouble or anything else, that game result could become an anchor, no matter how well Harden plays.

Betting solely on Harden to stubbornly attack his former team is the logical and obvious choice. His point total Over/Under of 25.5 without much juice is begging for him to cruise right past it.

In the Beard’s first game against his ex, bet on him to show off with his hot new partner in this matchup.

Pick: James Harden Over 25.5 points (-104)

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