Brooklyn’s 4-10 record does not solely define them. This team works hard and plays as a unit on a nightly basis.
Brook Lopez has led the way, and is usually the reason why the Nets have stayed competitive in most of their games thus far. The former Stanford standout is averaging 20.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest, including nearly two three-pointers made a game.
Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick, meanwhile, have provided support, averaging around 14 points apiece.
The Nets are collectively putting up 105.4 points this season, good for ninth-highest in the league. However, they’re allowing more points (113.1) to opposing teams, the explanation for their slow start.
They’ve also lost their last four games (0-3-1 ATS); an ugly defensive stretch in which Brooklyn’s conceding 122.2 points. But don’t forget that the Nets got the better of the Pacers in the first meeting this season at the Barclays Center, where Lopez posted a game-high 25 points.
Indy’s still getting it together. Injuries have prevented the team to gel and live up to the expectations. The Pacers are 7-9 on the season, tied for just the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference, and have lost three of their last four games, including the past two to Golden State and Atlanta at home.
Paul George returned from a three-game absence against the Hawks, but went 6-of-22 from the floor for his 18 points. Center Myles Turner also suited up after missing one game and was just as rusty as George, finishing with seven points and nine boards.
The Indiana offense has really taken a step back lately, failing to reach the 100-point mark in five of the last seven games while going 3-4 ATS. But the Pacers could start draining some buckets, especially Thaddeus Young, who’s collecting 19.3 points in the last three games, against a Brooklyn defense that loves to give away points.
