Brooklyn (1-0) at Philadelphia (0-1)
When: Monday, April 15th, 2019
Where: Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -7.5/226.5
The Brooklyn Nets played their first playoff game in four years Saturday and looked as if they were seasoned veterans in dismantling the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series 111-102. Brooklyn led from start to finish, as the Sixers looked completely lost at times on offense. Center Joel Embiid was listed as doubtful for Philadelphia, but ended up playing and scoring 22 points and bringing down 15 rebounds, but clearly looked bothered by his knee injury. D’Angelo Russell led the Nets with 26 points, while Caris LeVert contributed 23 off the bench to help Brooklyn steal home court advantage away from Philadelphia. Jimmy Butler led all scorers with a career-high playoff performance of 36 points, but the 76ers shot just 3-of-25 from 3-point range and 40.7 percent overall in Game 1. The Nets closed out the first quarter on a 12-0 run to take a 31-22 lead, as Philadelphia missed its final nine shots from the field in the quarter, missing all nine 3-point attempts in the first. Butler kept the Sixers close with 23 points in the first half including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, cutting the deficit to eight.
Russell, LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie – all guards – combined for 67 points for the sixth-seeded Nets on Saturday, with LeVert leading a 59-point attack for the Brooklyn bench in Game 1 in his playoff debut. Fellow bench player Ed Davis also got in on the fun with 12 points and 16 rebounds while starter Joe Harris scored 13 points on a productive 5-of-7 shooting night. Another key factor in Game 1 was Brooklyn making 24-of-26 free throws.
The Sixers got to the line plenty of times, but were just 29-of-42 including 1-of-5 from star guard Ben Simmons, who had some strong words for the Philadelphia fans that were booing the team’s effort. “If you’re going to boo, then stay on that side,” Simmons said. “That’s how I feel, if you’re a Sixer fan and you’re going to boo then stay on that side.” It should be interesting to see how the fans react in Game 2, especially if the team struggles again. Forward Tobias Harris (18.2 points per game) was limited to just four points, while playing his first postseason game since 2016.
It was an ugly effort all-around from this 76ers team on Saturday, outside of Butler. Embiid is clearly not 100% and will probably be listed as questionable the whole series, but how long will this series last? Brooklyn is more than capable of pulling off another upset, so give me the points in this one.
Pick: Nets +8
Nets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Nets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Nets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Nets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Nets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Nets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Nets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
76ers are 31-15 ATS in their last 46 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
76ers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Monday games.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Nets last 5 overall.
Under is 8-2 in Nets last 10 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Nets last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 4-1 in Nets last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Nets last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 9-3 in Nets last 12 Monday games.
Under is 6-2 in Nets last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 13-5 in Nets last 18 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Nets last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Over is 28-12 in Nets last 40 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 21-9 in Nets last 30 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 Monday games.
Over is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 home games.
Over is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 8-2 in 76ers last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Over is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-3 in 76ers last 12 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 11-4 in 76ers last 15 overall.
Over is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Nets are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Philadelphia.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
