The Brooklyn Nets end their five-game trip when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Along with being two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, there is a recent history between the franchises. Last season they swapped disgruntled stars, with the 76ers acquiring James Harden and Ben Simmons being moved to the Nets.
In the Nets’ last game, they found a way to come back and beat the Golden State Warriors 120-116 behind another strong night from Kyrie Irving. The 76ers have won five straight – all on the road – after defeating the Sacramento Kings 129-127, with Joel Embiid and James Harden taking the night off.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report, and NBA lines for Nets vs 76ers. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Nets Have Irving Going
While Irving seems more than likely to be an All-Star starter and is putting up solid numbers, and with Kevin Durant out for at least two more weeks, the Nets needed him to be elite. It started rocky, as the Nets lost the first four games without Durant. Irving wasn’t playing how the team needed him to, shooting 38% from the field.
However, in the last two games, Irving has nearly single-handedly willed the Nets to wins. Against the Utah Jazz, he had 48 points, doing most of his damage in the final quarter with 21, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Then against the Warriors, he had 38 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, one of those being to Royce O’Neale on a 3-point attempt to give the Nets a late lead.
The Nets are in a much better position to deal with Durant’s absence than last season. Despite Simmons not being the same scorer he once was, his ability as a defender and playmaker is still crucial. Nic Claxton has shown the most significant improvement, becoming a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and having a career night against the Warriors with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
76ers Are Stacked
The 76ers closed out a sweep of a five-game road trip, winning the final game without the league’s leading scorer and the player fifth in total assists. Without Embiid and Harden, the 76ers replaced them with Tyrese Maxey and Montrezl Harrell, as the team scored 129 points and beat the third seed in the Western Conference. It is safe to say the 76ers are an outstanding team, especially as they now sit as the second seed in the East.
Having Maxey back has sparked the team, which has lost twice in the last 11 games since he returned from injury. Surprisingly, he has been moved to the bench due to his struggles on defense. De’Anthony Melton was moved back into the starting lineup, being a much better defender. Maxey has thrived in a different role, averaging 17.7 points, shooting more efficiently, and still averaging nearly 30 minutes per game in his three recent contests off the bench.
That doesn’t mean Maxey isn’t a threat when starting, putting up 32 points with six assists against the Kings. He was one of six players who had more than 14 points in that game, with Harrell, Tobias Harris and Georges Niang each scoring 17.
Nets vs 76ers Game Injuries
Nets vs 76ers Head-to-Head
The 76ers won the first game against the Nets this season in Philadelphia. Simmons was showered in boos from the Philly fans, which will likely happen again. The 76ers were without Embiid, Harden and Maxey, and still pulled off a 115-106 win over a relatively healthy Nets team.
Nets vs 76ers Game Information
- Game: Nets (29-17) vs 76ers (30-17)
- Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Nets vs 76ers Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Nets vs 76ers Betting Lines
Nets vs 76ers Picks and Prediction
Neither team had their key players in their last game, with Harden and Embiid sitting for the 76ers and Durant out for some time with the Nets. However, the 76ers stars were resting and should be available to face the Nets.
The supporting cast for the 76ers proved their worth in the win over the Kings, and while the Nets have steadied the ship, it has been mainly Irving doing a lot of the work. With the 76ers’ stars back, they should be able to beat the Nets at home.
Philadelphia is listed at -220 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the 76ers, you have a chance to win $45. Brooklyn +180, offering a chance to win $180 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Philadelphia a 68.75% chance to win, with the Nets at 35.71%.
Nets vs 76ers Trends
Nets vs 76ers Edge
Nets vs 76ers Results
Nets vs 76ers Game Summary
Nets vs 76ers Previous Game (Nov. 22, 2022)
The Brooklyn Nets have won back-to-back games coming and now roll into Philadelphia to test themselves against a 76ers team that has also fallen way short of expectations.
Both of the Nets’ wins were against talented opponents, coming against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies. Can they defeat the 76ers?
Philadelphia had been riding a three-game winning streak before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
This is going to be an interesting game. However, injuries are likely to be the story here. With the 76ers missing Embiid, Maxey and Harden, the team simply won’t have the firepower to keep up.
The Nets aren’t exactly world-beaters but this is a spot where they should thrive. And maybe even Ben Simmons shows up and plays well against his former team.
Take the Nets in the sportsbook with your NBA picks.
