5 days ago
2
The Brooklyn Nets (10-21) are on a two-game losing streak after performing like one of the best teams in the league in December due to their massive improvement on the defensive end of the floor. Brooklyn will have to play better given how tough their schedule is moving forward, but their next chance to start a new winning streak comes Friday at the Washington Wizards (8-24) and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place!
The Nets come into this game following a 120-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday in which Brooklyn just didn't have enough firepower to keep up with Kevin Durant and company. Guard Cam Thomas came off the bench to score 21 points while forward Ziaire Williams had 14 points and five steals to put together one of his most impressive games of the season, considering he didn't play in the previous two games.
Advertisement
The Wizards enter this matchup after a 114-113 win at the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in which Washington held their own despite having to face a Milwaukee team led by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Center Alex Sarr had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks while guard Bub Carrington came off the bench to drop 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists of his own.
The Lines, Courtesy Of BetMGM
Notable Injuries
Nets: OUT: Nic Claxton (personal reasons), Haywood Highsmith (knee), Michael Porter Jr. (illness), Cam Thomas (hamstring management), Tyson Etienne (G League), Chaney Johnson (G League), and Ben Saraf (G League).
Advertisement
Wizards: OUT: Kyshawn George (hip), Corey Kispert (hamstring), and Cam Whitmore (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: Tristan Vukcevic (illness).
Advice and Prediction
The Nets had been playing like one of the best teams in the league during December, but they have now lost their last two games in convincing fashion to the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. Brooklyn's defense has fallen by the wayside against two teams that are good-to-great offensive units, but the Wizards should be a team that the Nets should be able to defend reasonably well.
The Wizards have had a solid mix of veterans and young players that has allowed the team to be competitive in some games, such as their game on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Washington, similar to Brooklyn, is still waiting to get that one player that is definitely the franchise building block, but until then, players like Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly are the main players of interest.
Advertisement
The Nets and Wizards rank towards the bottom of the NBA in offensive rating, but it's clear from looking at the defensive and pace numbers that these teams have different styles of play. After a disastrous start to the campaign, Brooklyn is virtually middle-of-the-pack in defensive rating while Washington is one of the worst teams in the league in the metric. When it comes to pace, the Wizards are one of the faster teams in the Association whereas the Nets rank as one of the slowest.
Prediction: Nets 110, Wizards 105
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets at Wizards betting preview: Prediction, point spread, odds
English (US) ·