The Philadelphia 76ers welcome Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets in a matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses this Friday. Will the Sixers keep their win streak alive at the expense of Brooklyn? Or, will the Nets steal a win in Philly?

Catch this game live on Thursday, January 26, at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Brooklyn Nets (29-17/16-10 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Ben Simmons
  • SG:  Kyrie Irving
  • SF: Joe Harris
  • PF: Royce O’Neale
  • C: Nic Claxton

The Nets are starting to gain steam again. Following a four-game losing skid, Kyrie Irving and the Nets have won two in a row, beating the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City last Saturday (117-106) before taking care of business in the Bay Area with a 120-116 victory against the Golden State Warriors. 

Even though they are still missing Kevin Durant due to injury, the Nets can very clearly still win with Kyrie Irving as the fulcrum of their offense. Irving had 48 points in the Jazz game and outplayed Stephen Curry with a 38-point performance versus the reigning NBA champions. But don’t sleep on Nic Claxton, who’s taken his game to a higher level of late. Claxton is averaging 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season, but over his last four appearances, he’s come up with averages of 19.8 points on 73.3 FG% and 10.5 rebounds per game. He’s also rejected 3.5 shots over that same stretch. 

Although the Nets have won just three of their last 10 visits to Philadelphia, they are 2-1 SU in their last three there. Plus, they have covered the spread in three of their last four games as the road team versus the Sixers. 

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Home: Philadelphia 76ers (30-16/17-7 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Tyrese Maxey
  • SG: James Harden
  • SF: Tobias Harris
  • PF: P.J. Tucker
  • C: Joel Embiid (questionable)

While the Nets won’t have Durant for this game, the Sixers could potentially miss the services of both Joel Emiid (foot) and James Harden (foot) again. Both Sixers superstars missed last Sunday’s showdown against the surging Sacramento Kings but that did not stop Philadelphia from scoring a win. With Tyrese Maxey (32 points) leading the charge, the Sixers pulled off a 129-127 road victory over the Kings which also extended Philly’s win streak to four games. 

Well, the Sixers also missed both Embiid and Harden when they beat the Nets at home last November, 115-106. In that game, Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton paced the Sixers with 24 and 22 points, respectively. Even without their top guns at times, the Sixers know how to win because their defense has consistently delivered. The Sixers are third in the NBA with just 110.2 points allowed per game and eighth with a defensive 53.4 eFG%.

The Sixers have won eight of their last 10 games at home. They’re also 6-4 ATS in those contests.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Sixers (-5.5) cover the spread.