The Philadelphia 76ers will look to snap a two-game skid Friday when they cross paths with the streaking Brooklyn Nets. Will the Sixers avenge their early-season loss to Brooklyn? Or, will the Nets double down on their dominance in this head-to-head series in the regular season?
Catch this game live on Friday, December 17, at 8:30 AM, Manila time.
Away: Philadelphia 76ers (15-14/9-7 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Tyrese Maxey
- SG: Seth Curry
- SF: Matisse Thybulle
- PF: Tobias Harris
- C: Joel Embiid
The Sixers have hit a rough patch. They are only 1-3 in their last four games, a stretch that includes back-to-back losses to the Memphis Grizzlies on the road last Tuesday (126-91) and to the Miami Heat at home Thursday (101-96). What’s interesting, though, is that the lone Sixers win over that span was their 102-93 victory in Philly against the league-best Golden State Warriors last Sunday. Despite the loss to the Heat, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris had standout performances.
Maxey scored 27 points, while Harris had 24. What held the Sixers down was the anemic offense from the other guards. Seth Curry only punched in seven points. Matisse Thybulle is not known for his scoring, but he wasted all five shots from the field on bricks. Perhaps Curry, at least, can find his rhythm again versus Brooklyn’s defense that had just allowed 56 points to Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr in the Nets’ last game. Moreover, Curry had 23 points on 9/12 shooting in the first meeting with Brooklyn this season, albeit in a 114-109 home loss back in October. Philly will enter Friday’s game with a 6-4 ATS record this season as a road underdog.
Home: Brooklyn Nets (20-8/9-5 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Patty Mills
- SG: David Duke Jr.
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Blake Griffin
- C: Nicolas Claxton
First of all, the Nets’ roster is looking like a hospital ward right now, with plenty of players hitting the NBA’s health and safety protocols list. Among those players is James Harden, who will most likely miss Friday’s rematch against the Sixers. That would definitely hurt Brooklyn’s chances, as Harden scored 20 points to go with seven rebounds and eight assists in the October win versus Philadelphia. But the good news for the Nets is that they still have Kevin Durant active.
No virus is going to survive inside Durant’s system with how hot he’s been of late. Durant poured in 51 points in Brooklyn’s 116-104 road win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday then followed that up with a 34-point performance in a 131-129 overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors at home Wednesday. Patty Mills also scored 30 points against the Raptors. Cam Thomas, David Duke Jr., and Kessler Edwards might get NBA fans searching for Who? GIFs, but these players are bonafide scorers in college and could get hot anytime when given the confidence and greenlight. The Nets are 3-2 ATS this season in divisional games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: This is where Philly’s offense finally breaks out of a slump after failing to score 100 points in back-to-back contests. Leaning on the Sixers to cover (+1) here.
Over/Under: The Sixers will get their buckets and so will KD and the Nets. I like the Over (214.0) hitting.
