The Philadelphia 76ers will play the Brooklyn Nets in an Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a 76ers-Nets prediction and pick.

The 76ers and Nets play on Thursday as Brooklyn gets Kevin Durant back out of the NBA's health and safety protocols. It will be Durant's first game since entering the protocols, so we will see if he is under any sort of minutes restriction or if he is fully good to go. Kyrie Irving will wait to wait a bit longer to make his season debut as he is still ineligible to play in New York City despite also clearing the league's health and safety protocols. The 76ers seem to be finally getting healthy as well as they have just two rotation players out, both of whom are in the process of trying to clear the health and safety protocols. The Nets come in as home favorites over the 76ers in this one as Irving and Joe Harris are now their only missing rotation pieces.

Here is how FanDuel has set the 76ers-Nets odds for this Thursday NBA matchup.

NBA Odds: 76ers-Nets Odds

Philadelphia 76ers +5 (-110)

Brooklyn Nets -5 (-110)

Over 219.5 (-110)

Under 219.5 (-110)

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Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread

The Sixers have won three straight on the road and may be primed for a run as they continue to get healthy. Joel Embiid looks back to his MVP form and his supporting cast is more than capable when all of the pieces are in place. Embiid has 36 or more points in three of his last four games and 32+ in four of his last five. For December, the big man is averaging 28.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game to go with 4.2 assists and 49.8/36.6/85.4 shooting splits. Embiid is truly in a zone right now, so Durant better come back from Covid ready to go or the 76ers could steal this game with a cover and a win.

The 76ers are now just waiting on Shake Milton and Danny Green to clear health and safety protocols before finally (hopefully) having their full team for maybe the first time all season, sans holdout forward Ben Simmons.

Philadelphia vs. the spread

The Sixers are just 15-19 overall vs. the spread this season as they have battled injuries and Covid absences. Philadelphia is 3-7 vs. the spread in their last ten games, but 7-4 against the number as an away underdog this season. The 76ers have covered just twice in their last seven games.

Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread

Getting Kevin Durant (and LaMarcus Aldridge) back off the health and safety protocol list is a big boost for the Nets obviously, especially for a matchup vs. a surging Joel Embiid. It remains to be seen what if any restrictions will be applied to Durant and Aldridge by the Nets staff. In Durant's last game before going into protocols, he had 34 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in a win over these 76ers. James Harden also comes into this game hot off of a big Christmas Day performance that was followed up by a 39-point game in a win over the Clippers on Monday.

Brooklyn vs. the spread

The Nets are 14-17-1 vs. the spread this season. Brooklyn has covered in three of their last four games and is getting Durant back in this one, however. The Nets are 6-4 vs. the spread in their last ten games and are as healthy as they have been in a minute.

Final 76ers-Nets Prediction and Pick

Take the Nets to cover and win vs. the 76ers at home. Durant and Harden may prove to be too much for the 76ers to matchup with. Philadelphia is still missing a couple of pieces and may struggle to guard the Nets on the perimeter.

Final 76ers-Nets Prediction & Pick: Nets -5 (-110)