The Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards will try to enter the All-Star break on a winning note when they collide on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. After losing 11 straight games, the new-look Nets (31-27) have won back-to-back contests. On Thursday they knocked off the crosstown rival New York Knicks, 111-106. Meanwhile the Wizards (26-31), who lost to Indiana, 113-108, on Thursday, are sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 1.5 games behind Atlanta for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Brooklyn remains without Kevin Durant (knee), Ben Simmons (reconditioning), Joe Harris (ankle). Kyrie Irving (vaccine status) is out for this home game. Bradley Beal (wrist) and Kristaps Porzingis (knee) are the most notable absences for Washington.
Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. Brooklyn is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Nets vs. Wizards odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is set at 215. Before making any Wizards vs. Nets picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 67-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Wizards, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Wizards vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Wizards spread: Brooklyn -4.5
- Nets vs. Wizards over-under: 215 points
- Nets vs. Wizards moneyline: Brooklyn -190, Washington +160
- BKN: Nets rank fifth in the NBA in field-goal percentage (46.8).
- WAS: Kyle Kuzma is averaging 16.5 points per game.
Featured Game | Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards
Why the Nets can cover
Brooklyn has looked like a different team since trading away James Harden. In two games since Seth Curry and Andre Drummond joined the team, the Nets are 2-0 with victories over the Kings and Knicks. Over the two games Brooklyn has given up 96.5 points per 100 possessions, which leads the league over that time and is a significant improvement over the team’s season-long defensive efficiency (111.0).
In addition, Cameron Thomas is on a roll. The rookie guard from LSU has scored at least 20 points in five of his last seven games and is averaging 21.6 points per game over that stretch. He also is shooting 48.7 percent from the field.
Why the Wizards can cover
Kuzma is in the midst of arguably his best season. The fifth-year vet from Utah is averaging 16.5 points per game, which is the second highest of his career, while averaging career-highs in rebounds (8.8) and assists (3.1). With the season-ending injury to Beal, Kuzma has an opportunity to carry a bigger load.
In addition, Washington faces a Brooklyn team that has been beatable at home this season. The Nets are just 13-14 at the Barclays Center and are one of just five Eastern Conference teams with a losing record at home. Brooklyn’s offensive efficiency at home is just 107.7 points per 100 possessions, which is the fifth worst in the league.
How to make Wizards vs. Nets picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 221 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Wizards? And which side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
