After final week’s TNT doubleheader featured a few of the league’s younger stars, tonight’s double dip has some outdated canine making an attempt to recapture a few of that championship swagger. Within the opener, a virtually wholesome Brooklyn squad visits a banged up 76ers workforce in Philadelphia. For a lot of the yr, the Nets have been coping with accidents and participant absences which have largely contributed to their underwhelming 8-9 report. Steve Nash was fired in favor of Jacque Vaughn, Kyrie Irving was suspended and missed eight video games, and Ben Simmons has been lacking, properly, on and off the ground. Nevertheless, the Nets have gained 7 of their final 11 video games and surprisingly have been among the best defensive groups over the past two weeks.
For the 76ers, mounting accidents have plagued their early common season. Like Brooklyn, they’ve weathered absences from James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and now Joel Embiid with a suffocating protection. The priority now and heading into tonight’s recreation is how Doc Rivers will generate offense with out three of their most vital offensive hubs. De’Anthony Melton and Shake Milton mixed for 48 factors within the again court docket in a loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday evening and Tobias Harris is ready to return from a hip damage, however that is probably not sufficient in opposition to a Nets workforce discovering its stride.
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Photograph by Elsa/Getty Pictures
Out west, the Lakers have gained three straight with out LeBron James and he’ll miss his fifth recreation with a left abductor pressure. He’s clearly been missed, however a resurgence by Anthony Davis has buoyed the workforce (for now); through the win streak, AD is averaging 35 factors and 17 rebounds and been the anchor of the ninth finest defensive workforce within the league. Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker IV proceed to be revelations for LA and Russell Westbrook is a candidate for Sixth Man of the 12 months off the Lakers’ bench.
Lastly — and inform me for those who’ve heard this earlier than — the 64-win Phoenix Suns from a yr in the past are nonetheless championship contenders even whereas they battle a slew of accidents, too. Chris Paul (proper heel soreness) and Landry Shamet (concussion protocol) are unlikely to go well with up in opposition to the visiting Lakers and the Suns have misplaced Cam Johnson for a number of weeks with a torn proper meniscus. With rumors swirling a couple of doable commerce with disgruntled Jae Crowder, the Suns have quietly been a top-3 offense within the desert and probably the most environment friendly workforce within the NBA (7.0 web score) regardless of their 10-6 report.
With accidents abound, Philly is a 7.5-point underdog internet hosting the Nets and the Lakers are getting 10 factors visiting the Suns. The lights and the nationwide tv cameras can usually make for an unpredictable final result and for those who’re intrigued in making your evening slightly extra attention-grabbing, try a few of the prop bets on the most important drama of the evening: the return of Ben Simmons to Wells Fargo Heart.
Earlier than getting shipped to Brooklyn, Simmons was a triple-double risk in a PHILA jersey. In his ultimate season within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love, he was averaging practically 14 factors, 7 rebounds, and seven assists a recreation. Tonight, our mates over at DraftKings have set the next over unders for the previous #1 choose:
10.5 factors (over -115, below -115)
7.5 rebounds (over +100, below -130)
5.5 assists (over -130, below +100)
And for those who’re betting on the entire of factors, rebounds, and assists, it’s 24.5 (over -105, below -125). He’ll actually get an icy reception in his return. How he responds is anybody’s guess.
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