Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Slump-Buster? Harden Traded to Philadelphia in Five-Player Deal
Skidding Nets Ship Harden to Philly
The Brooklyn Nets pulled off a blockbuster trade hours before their showdown with the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital on Thursday night. Losers of nine in a row, the Nets sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a five-player deal.
Brooklyn is the road underdog on the NBA odds board. Both the Nets and Wizards are struggling on form, making this a total coin toss for betting online picks. So, will the Nets come through on their underdog odds or will the Wizards heap more misery on coach Steve Nash’s side?
Nets at Wizards Game Information
- Game: Brooklyn Nets (29-25) at Washington Wizards (24-29)
- Location: Capital One Arena, Washington
- Day/Time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN
Nets Lost the Plot
No Kevin Durant. No more Harden, but Kyrie Irving is expected back in the lineup on Thursday. The Brooklyn Nets have been a mere shadow of the team that was lorded over the rest of the field as the top bet to win the NBA championship this season.
Harden had been out with a left hamstring issue and Durant is dealing with a sprained knee ligament that he sustained in the middle of January. Irving continues to be ineligible to play in Brooklyn due to the New York City’s Covid-19 vaccine mandates. He will return against the Wizards, although the Nets have lost six straight on the road with him in the lineup.
We’re all very upset to see what’s become of the Brooklyn Nets… pic.twitter.com/ZxTXVIoN6O
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) February 9, 2022
Brooklyn took its ninth straight loss on Tuesday, losing 126-91 to the Boston Celtics at home. Although the Nets closed as the 10-point underdogs at the sportsbook exchange, they failed to whiff at the point spread in a lackluster effort that highlights just how dependent the team is on its All-Star players.
Wizards Out of Sorts
The Washington Wizards weren’t expected to be overly competitive this season. In all likelihood, the 24-29 Wizards are exactly where most would have predicted they’d be at this point: outside the playoff picture and looking in.
The Miami Heat steamrolled the Wizards 121-100 on Monday night at Capital One Arena. It marked the second straight loss for the Wizards and their eighth loss in their last 10.
Corey Kispert two-hand slam on the fast break 🔨😨 pic.twitter.com/Im8g7ulRPw
— Quinton Mayo (@RealQuintonMayo) February 8, 2022
Corey Kispert had a solid showing for the Wizards, putting up 20 points, six rebounds and one assist. Aaron Holiday added 14 points with four rebounds and four assists while Montrezl Harrell contributed 13 points, one rebound and two assists. However, Washington was also active at Thursday’s deadline, reportedly trading Spencer Dinwiddie, Holiday and Harrell in separate deals.
Nets at Wizards Head-to-Head
Brooklyn and Washington are tied 5-5 straight up in their last 10 meetings. They met as recently as Jan. 18 with Brooklyn taking the 119-118 victory. During this span, the Nets are 4-6 against the spread and 5-5 in over/under betting.
Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards Prediction
The wheels have truly come undone. What started out as a promising season for Nash’s highly fancied Brooklyn Nets is fast getting away from them. The side’s inability to reconcile with the injuries to their stars is worrisome, highlighting just how interrelated their presence in the lineup is to overall performance.
Perhaps, a date against the Washington Wizards is exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s certainly an opportunity to get back into the win column and snap the nine-game losing streak. But not if the Nets approach this game with the kind of apathy they showed against the Boston Celtics. If that’s the case, Washington might take advantage.
The Wizards gave as good as they got the last time these sides met. In fact, the Nets had Harden and Irving in the lineup and barely managed to pull out the 119-118 win.
Irving is coming off a 27-point performance at Denver on Sunday, but he has struggled with his shooting (21 of 61) over the last three games.
In return for Harden and Paul Millsap, the Nets will receive Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and a pair of first-round draft picks. Washington traded Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
