Wizards at Nets Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Brooklyn Favored Following Stirring Comeback on Wednesday
Nets Eye Rare Back-to-Back Wins
Less than 24 hours after their gutsy comeback win over their city rivals, the Brooklyn Nets go home to host the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Brooklyn is favored to win per their NBA betting lines and it would be their longest winning streak since Dec. 16. The Wizards are also ravaged by injuries and are just 3-10 in their last 13 games.
Wizards at Nets Game Information
- Game: Washington Wizards (26-31) at Brooklyn Nets (31-27)
- Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Day/Time: Thursday, 7:40 p.m. ET
- Television: YES
Wizards Change Hats But Remain Woeful
In trading for Kristaps Porzingis, the Washington Wizards killed two birds with one stone: they swapped two bloated contracts for one and gave disgruntled (and injured) star Bradley Beal a legitimate star — or what’s left of him. Porzingis, like Beal, is sidelined and may not suit up for Washington anytime soon.
But the Wizards have plenty to play for, namely the final spot in the play-in tournament. The Wizards are just 1½ games behind the Atlanta Hawks. However, this team hasn’t been playing with any life lately. The Wizards are just 3-16-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 20 games.
In this span, the Wizards have averaged the 23rd rating on both offense and defense. More notably, their effective field goal rate is just 26th. Betting online on a team that stinks on both ends of the court is a hard bargain.
Brooklyn Digs Deep
Who needs Kevin Durant when you have Cam Thomas? The Nets’ bench player channeled his inner KD and lit up the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter as the Nets overcame a 28-point deficit to win. The real KD then took to Twitter:
Nets fans were loud in the barc….I mean the garden tonight
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 17, 2022
As riveting as this victory was, it was only Brooklyn’s second win in 12 games and they did it against a failing team. Brooklyn is just 8-16 since the New Year. It’s partly because of injuries as Durant has not played along with half of the frontcourt.
But the arrival of Seth Curry and Andre Drummond via trade should continue to bolster the lineup. Look for the Nets on the sportsbook as this team could be on an upward trajectory. The All-Star break couldn’t come at a better moment.
Wizards at Nets Head-to-Head
The Brooklyn Nets lead the season series against the Washington Wizards 2-1. The last two games were decided by one point, with Brooklyn and Washington winning one game apiece. The Nets are 2-0-1 ATS in these games but were just 1-6 ATS in the seven games prior to this season.
Wizards at Nets Prediction
These teams are both on the second night of a back-to-back but the Brooklyn Nets’ record is much worse. Brooklyn is just 1-7-1 ATS when having no rest while the Washington Wizards are 3-3-1 ATS. The Nets have also been terrible covering at home as a favorite with an NBA-worst 19.1 percent cover rate (4-17-1).
However, the Wizards aren’t great either. The team is just 6-11-1 ATS as a road team in conference games. Between these struggling teams, side with the Nets. Brooklyn has better scorers and even amidst their losing skid, the Nets still ranked somewhere in the middle in offensive rating (16th).
In what should also be a high-scoring game – the total has gone over in four of these teams’ last six games – bank on the Nets to beat the Wizards straight-up.
Parlay: Brooklyn Nets -190 and Over 215½ (+191)
Pick: Brooklyn Nets (-190)
Pick: Over 215½
