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The Philadelphia 76ers will play the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in a Western Conference matchup. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a 76ers-Nets prediction and pick.
The 76ers and Nets will meet on Thursday as Brooklyn will look to continue to win despite having over half of their rotation in health and safety protocol. Kevin Durant remains in the lineup while James Harden and several others navigate the protocols. Philadelphia battled a bit of an outbreak earlier in the season, but comes into this one relatively healthy as far as their key players are concerned. Joel Embiid and the Sixers have not exactly found their stride to this point, sitting at just 15-14 on the season. Brooklyn will have a rest edge in this one after the 76ers lost to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Due to all of their issues with players in health and safety protocol, the Nets still come in as just slight favorites over the 76ers in this one.
Here is how FanDuel has set the 76ers-Nets odds for this Thursday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: 76ers-Nets Odds
Philadelphia 76ers +1 (-110)
Brooklyn Nets -1 (-110)
Over 214 (-110)
Under 214 (-110)
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Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
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Philadelphia took a tough loss at home to Miami on Wednesday, but they still may be the less exhausted team on Thursday. The Nets have the majority of the regular rotation unavailable, with Kevin Durant and Patty Mills being the last of the Nets' key scorers available. The 76ers have not released an injury report as they are on a back-to-back. If Embiid and/or others are ruled out for this one, the line obviously changes. The Sixers have lost three out of their last four games while the Nets have somehow stayed above water despite their recent issues. It remains to be seen how long Brooklyn can stay afloat missing the majority of their rotation, but Durant is a nice guy to lean on for the time being. The Sixers have lost three of their last four and could really use a win over the shorthanded Nets on Thursday.
The 76ers are 9-7 on the road this season and 13-16 vs. the spread overall.
Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread
The list of inactive players for the Nets on Thursday is quite lengthy. Kyrie Irving (not with team) and Joe Harris (ankle) remain out. The following players are out on the health and safety list: James Harden, Lamarcus Aldridge, Jevon Carter, DeAndre' Bembry, Bruce Brown, Paul Millsap and James Johnson. This left rookies Cam Thomas and David Duke Jr. as rotation players in Brooklyn's Tuesday night overtime win over the Toronto Raptors. The Nets have signed veteran guard Langston Galloway to the hardship exception, and he may slide right into the rotation as well. This will be a tough test for the Nets to continue winning on the shoulders of their defense and Kevin Durant without so many key contributors.
The Nets are 9-5 at home this season and 11-17-1 overall against the spread.
Final 76ers-Nets Prediction & Pick
Assuming most of the 76ers' key guys suit up, take them to cover and win vs. the Nets even on the back-to-back. Brooklyn being so shorthanded will catch up to them at some point, as asking Durant to carry the second and third units to victory night in and night out is a difficult thing to do.
Final 76ers-Nets prediction & pick: 76ers +1 (-110)
