Brooklyn (25-28) at Philadelphia (34-21)
When: Thursday, February 20th, 2020
Where: Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -7.5/217
After a full week off, the NBA regular season resumes on Thursday with a TNT double-header featuring the Brooklyn Nets versus the Philadelphia 76ers in the opener. Rumors were swirling around the All-Star Break that the 76ers might fire coach Brett Brown because his talented team has been so inconsistent. Philadelphia can’t seem to string together road wins and climb the Eastern Conference standings, but they’re a dominant 25-2 at Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers are currently sitting in the No. 5 spot in the conference, 1.5 games behind fourth place Miami. Brooklyn would be the No. 7 seed if the playoffs started today, and it’s unlikely the Nets – or anyone behind them – climb any higher as they are six games behind No. 6 Indiana. The Nets are two games up on No. 8 Orlando and five on the first team outside the playoff field in the Washington Wizards. This is the final meeting of the season with Philadelphia leading 2-1 after a 117-111 road win on Jan. 20. Ben Simmons is averaging 24.7 points, 8.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game vs. Brooklyn, but fellow All-Star Joel Embiid hasn’t played in any of them. Spencer Dinwiddie leads the Nets in averaging 24.0 points vs. the Sixers. Star point guard Kyrie Irving has faced the 76ers once and won’t be on the court Thursday. Philadelphia is 6-1 against the spread in the past seven meetings with the Over cashing in the last two.
The Nets haven’t won three in a row since early December, but have a chance Thursday after a home 101-91 upset of Toronto, ending the Raptors’ franchise-record 15-game winning streak. That was the longest win streak the Nets have snapped in their franchise history. Caris LeVert led the team with 20 points, while Dinwiddie contributed 17 points and nine assists. Irving has been in and out of the lineup all season with shoulder and knee problems and didn’t play versus Toronto. He apparently had a setback with the shoulder in practice Tuesday and will see a specialist for a second time. The hope for Nets’ fans is that Irving comes back 100 percent next season, coinciding with the arrival of Kevin Durant. Brooklyn, who will play six of their next seven on the road, will be at Charlotte Saturday.
The inconsistency for Philadelphia extended all the way up to the All-Star Break with the team following a four-game road losing streak with three straight home wins. One of those victories was a 110-103 triumph over Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers last Tuesday. Simmons recorded a triple-double in that contest with 26 points, 12 boards and 10 assists, while Embiid had 26 points. Philly traded for Golden State’s Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III before the break and Burks made his debut vs. the Clippers with two points in 14 minutes. The 76ers, who are 6-2 ATS in its past eight at home, will be at the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on ABC’s Saturday Night Showcase.
This seems like a lot of points to lay, but the Sixers have been on a roll versus the Nets lately, covering six of the last seven. The All-Star Break should recharge this team who could be ready to make a big run up the East standings.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 59-51-3 on the season!
Pick: 76ers -8
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Nets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Nets are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Nets are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Nets are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog.
Nets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Nets are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog.
Nets are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
76ers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
76ers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
76ers are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 Thursday games.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-1 in Nets last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Nets last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Nets last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Nets last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Nets last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 8-2 in Nets last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 9-3 in Nets last 12 Thursday games.
Under is 7-3 in Nets last 10 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 13-6-1 in Nets last 20 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 8-1 in 76ers last 9 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games as a home favorite.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 games as a favorite.
Over is 10-4 in 76ers last 14 home games.
Nets are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Nets are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Philadelphia.
