Hoping to stay above .500

The 13-12 Brooklyn Nets are hoping to stay above .500. They have now dropped two-straight after going on a solid stretch. On Sunday, they lost to the Toronto Raptors, 110-102.

Still missing the services of Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Caris LeVert (thumb), the Nets will continue relying on Spencer Dinwiddie to lead the playmaking duties. He’s been the go-to guy in scoring and facilitating following all the said injuries, and he has responded well, averaging 23.8 points and 7.5 assists in his last 14 games.

Jarrett Allen will be the presence in the paint, while Joe Harris, Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple will aid Dinwiddie in roaming the perimeter and creating offense. It’s a decent bunch capable of providing threes, rebounding, and defense.

Brooklyn is 7-5 at home this season.

The streaking Sixers

The visiting Philadelphia 76ers are only 6-7 on the road this season but they have won five in a row and 13 of their last 15. They are 21-7 overall and currently rank second in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Sixers’ surge is even more commendable when you consider that the main core hasn’t been fully healthy for a while. Al Horford is currently out with injuries in his knee and hamstring, and it came after Josh Richardson returned from his own injury.

Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris remain as Philly’s three-headed monster. Embiid has three-straight games with least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, including last Friday’s 38-13-6 stat line, where he and the Sixers handed the Boston Celtics’ first home loss of the season.

Simmons (24 points and 11 assists) and Harris (31 points), who both had productive nights in Saturday’s 116-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, will be looking to have a repeat performance.

PREDICTION:

The Sixers take advantage of a tired Nets team and win, 112-104.