The Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers are two of the best teams right now in the NBA – when healthy. The Nets could be missing a couple of stars this Wednesday, but even if one of their three superstars play, that should be enough for Philly to take Brooklyn seriously. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Nets were supposed to play the Minnesota Timberwolves last Monday, but that game was postponed in light of the tragic death of Daunte Wright. The postponement of that contest gives Brooklyn players more time to rest, though it’s uncertain if Kyrie Irving will be able to return to action this Wednesday. Irving played in the Nets’ most recent game, a 126-101 loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday, but is currently out due to personal reasons. If he can’t go, Kevin Durant will have an increased load to carry, especially with James Harden also sidelined. No one among Durant, Harden, and Irving was around, however, when the Nets took down the Sixers at home on Jan. 7, 122-109. Instead, it was Joe Harris who led the team with 28 points on 11-19 shooting. Brooklyn is second in the NBA with 118.7 points per game.
Unlike the Nets, Philadelphia is healthy, with Danny Green and Tobias Harris returning to action after missing some games. The two helped the Sixers beat Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on the road last Monday, 113-95. Harris and Green seemed a bit rusty, combining for just 16 points on 6-16 shooting from the field, but they should improve their rhythm going forward. Plus, it was actually Joel Embiid who did most of the work for Philly. Embiid had 26 points on 10-17 shooting. With Brooklyn lacking defensive depth in the frontcourt, the possibility of Embiid going off again this Wednesday is high. Embiid had 33 points and nine rebounds in the win over Brooklyn, 124-108, at home back on Feb. 6. After seeing Lakers big man Andre Drummond embarrass LaMarcus Aldridge down low, Embiid must be licking his chops over the prospect of dominating the Nets again.
The Sixers are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 home games.
