Nets vs. Wizards Odds
| Nets Odds | +2.5 |
| Wizards Odds | -1.5 |
| Over/Under | 218 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Odds via PointsBet. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here. | |
The Brooklyn Nets will take a trip to the nation's capital on Thursday night to square off against the WashingtonWizards.
Both Washington and Brooklyn enter this matchup trending in the wrong direction. The Wizards have lost eight of their past 10 games and have often times failed to remain competitive, and the Nets have lost nine straight games and are currently sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference.
Trade rumors have been swirling around both franchises this week, which could certainly affect who we see suit up for this matchup. Either way, one team will turn the tide and walk out of the arena with a win, but will it be the shorthanded Nets on the road or the Wizards on their home court?
Brooklyn Nets Spiral Continues
Nothing has gone right for Brooklyn as of late, and it doesn't appear that things will become easier any time soon.
Several of their stars, including Kevin Durant and James Harden, will remain sidelined along with LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, Joe Harris, and potentially Nic Claxton. Durant and Harden being out has hindered this offense significantly, and when you factor in the injuries to the rotational players listed above, Brooklyn simply doesn't have enough firepower to stay competitive on a nightly basis.
That was evident in their most recent matchup against Boston on Tuesday, a game in which the Celtics jumped out to a 28-2 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. The Nets ended up losing by a margin of 35 points while shooting 38% from the floor and 28% from behind the arc, further displaying their inability to accomplish much of anything without Durant, Harden, or Kyrie Irving on the floor.
Furthermore, in their most recent 10 games the Nets have posted an Offensive Rating of 109.6 while their Defensive Rating has become the worst in the league, surrendering 121 points per 100 possessions. As a result, Brooklyn has a scoring margin of -99 in their last five games, a rather concerning margin for a team that is still listed as the favorite to win the NBA title.
Luckily, there is some good news for Brooklyn. Since this game is on the road, Irving will be in the lineup, which could potentially provide a spark against a struggling Wizards squad.
Wizards Offense Falling Off Recently
The Wizards enter this matchup having won just two of their past 11 games, both of which have come against the 76ers. Similar to the Nets, the Wizards' struggles have been on display quite frequently, and it is not going to be an easy thing to turn around.
For the most part, the Wizards are a team that is fully healthy. However, it was announced on Wednesday that Bradley Beal will be out for the remainder of the season due to a wrist injury, which is a major blow to this offense. Daniel Gafford will likely be joining him on the bench unless he can clear health and safety protocols before tip-off, an absence that will have a large effect on Washington's defensive play.
Even though Beal has seen his offensive production slide this season compared to previous years, the Wizards simply could not afford to lose someone of his caliber at this point in the season.
In their last 10 games, the Wiz have posted an Offensive Rating of just 106.4, which ranks 26th in the NBA during that stretch. They've been horribly inefficient as a team during that time as well, shooting 43.9% from the field and 30% from behind the arc, so turning things around without their best player on the floor will certainly be a tall task.
From now on, the offense will likely play through Kyle Kuzma, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Rui Hachimura, with Thomas Bryant getting a few looks as he enters the starting lineup after tearing his ACL last season.
Nets-Wizards Pick
Neither Washington nor Brooklyn is in a great spot right now, which is why I have shifted my attention towards looking at the total.
From a statistical standpoint, the Nets have been the worst defense in the NBA for much of the last two weeks. However, Brooklyn hasn't exactly had the most friendly schedule in that stretch of time, going up against Boston, Denver, Utah, Phoenix, and Golden State in five of its last six games.
Now, Brooklyn is fortunate enough to go head-to-head with a Wizards offense that has averaged just 102.1 points per game in their last 10 games, which certainly provides them with the opportunity to clean things up on that end of the floor.
In addition, both rosters remain shorthanded from an offensive standpoint, and I think points are going to remain a struggle to come by. I like the under in this spot, and would play it to 216.5.
Pick: Under 218
