Typically the sign of a good team is how they fare on the road part of their NBA schedule. For the Brooklyn Nets, that is very well with a 14-8 mark so far, and now they get to travel and take on the lowly San Antonio Spurs. It is an important game as the Brooklyn Nets schedule only gets more difficult on this road trip while they try to track down the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
While the San Antonio Spurs predictions were that they would struggle this year, nobody could have seen them get this bad this quickly under Gregg Popovich’s direction.
Here is what fans need to know before making a Nets vs. Spurs prediction:
Recent Scores
As successful as the Nets have been this season, they enter this game limping, having lost their last two games. That includes dropping a 112-102 game to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in a game the Nets were outscored 37-22 in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn only had two fast break points, and Kyrie Irving struggled by going 1 for 7 on 3-point shots and only had 15 points. Neither Ben Simmons nor Kevin Durant played.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings could light up the beam once more after a 132-119 road wins against the Spurs. The damage was done in the third quarter when Sacramento outscored the Spurs 39-26. Even though the Spurs had a 66-56 paint advantage, Domantas Sabonis was dominant with 18 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists. While the Spurs won the rebounding advantage 40-38, they had 10 turnovers to the Kings’ five.
Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs Odds
Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs Information
Brooklyn Nets (27-15) vs. San Antonio Spurs (13-31)
Location of the game: AT&T Center. San Antonio, TX.
Date: Tuesday, 17th January. 8:00 p.m. ET
How to watch: MSG, Bally Sports Network, NBA League Pass
Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Analysis
Brooklyn Nets Stats
The Nets rank highly on the offensive and defensive efficiency scales, NBA team stats show. That had allowed them to play with a slower pace and be more under control under the leadership of interim coach Jacque Vaughn, who took over when Steve Nash was fired and has helped change the culture and chemistry amongst a team with three stars.
The Nets are 15th at scoring 113.9 points per game. They are second in offensive efficiency, converting 50.8% of field goal attempts and also ranking second with making 38.8% of 3-point shots. They are eighth at the free throw line, making 79.9% of those attempts. However, they are second last in rebounding at 40.5 per game.
Defensively, they are fifth in allowing 110.6 points per game and ranking third in defensive efficiency, limiting teams to 45.2% on field goal attempts. Though they have a deficiency on the perimeter, allowing teams to make 36.6% of 3-point shots. Opponents also grab 43.6 rebounds per game, which is 15th defensively.
Durant is expected back in February, probably after the All-Star break, with a back injury. In 39 games, he’s averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Ben Simmons is probable to return Tuesday from his own back injury. NBA player stats show he’s averaging 7.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 27.2 minutes per game across his 31 games played.
San Antonio Spurs Stats
The Spurs have been decent on the offensive end but are downright awful defensively. They are last in team defense, allowing 121.7 points per game, and allowing opponents to make 50.7% of field goal attempts and 39.9% of 3-point shots. They allow 43.7 rebounds per game, which ranks 18th defensively.
Offensively, the Spurs rank 19th in scoring 112.6 points per game and are 14th in offensive efficiency, converting 47.3% of field goal attempts. They are 21st in making 34.5% of their 3-point shots and are second worst in making 73.7% of their free throw attempts. They are 19th in rebounding at 42.7 per game.
San Antonio is dealing with some injuries as Devin Vassell, the team’s second-leading scorer at 19.4 points per game, is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Veteran sharpshooter Doug McDermott is questionable with a back injury.
The Spurs once had the streak for most playoff appearances consecutively. It appears they have some winning pieces on this team – Vassell and Keldon Johnson among them – but are searching for more. Rookie Blake Wesley suffered a season-ending injury after four games, so they have to hope he can recover and return to form.
Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview
NBA odds today show the Nets are favored by six points with an over/under of 235 points. The Nets are -225 on the moneyline, while the Spurs are +185.
NBA expert picks, or at least bets publicly made available, show 76% of bets are on the Nets to cover the spread while 62% of bets are on the over.
Since the Nets were founded in 1967, the Spurs have been one of the more difficult NBA matchups. San Antonio has won 72 games, while the Nets have won 28 games in their 100 meetings together in the regular season.
More recently, though, the Nets have won six straight dating back to March 6, 2020. That includes a 5-1 record against the spread and on over/under. Naturally, a Nets vs Spurs prediction swings in Brooklyn’s favor because of the growing talent deficit between the two teams. Though, the Nets are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 meetings in San Antonio.
Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Prediction
The data shows our Nets vs Spurs prediction should be as one-sided as what the public thinks will happen. There is some cause for concern that the Nets have lost consecutive games at home, though one of those was against the Celtics, and they were without two of their stars.
As long as they continue to play with poise and limit their usage of fouls, as Vaughn griped about his team after losing to the Thunder, the Spurs are in good shape to get back to their winning ways. Simmons will certainly help that and should generate space for their perimeter shooters if he plays.
We’ll take Spurs -6.0 and moneyline -225.
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