8:30 pm
December 19

Nets @ Spurs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Brooklyn Nets (15-12)

@ San Antonio Spurs (10-16)

 

Current odds:

Brooklyn Nets: (+135)

San Antonio Spurs: (-155)

 

The line for this game is Spurs by 3 points.

The San Antonio Spurs are not used to losing seasons, and they are certainly not accustomed to blowing 25-point leads. The Spurs will try to bounce back from their latest tough loss when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. San Antonio looked like it was pulling out of its funk with wins in three of four and a big first-half lead over the Rockets, but the tide quickly turned after the break as it handed the Rockets their biggest comeback victory in franchise history. The Spurs scored 72 points in the first half on Monday and 35 after the break in the 109-107 setback as they endured another tight game after playing four overtime contests in a row.

The Nets are coming off a tight game as well after earning a 108-101 win in overtime at New Orleans on Tuesday. “Our defense again saved us and collectively great job on (Pelicans forward Brandon) Ingram, great job on (Jrue) Holiday getting their percentages down,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. “We really had to work for this one.”

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 31 points as Brooklyn improved to 11-5 since All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving went down with a shoulder injury. Dinwiddie is averaging 24.3 points and 7.4 assists in 16 games since moving into Irving’s spot in the starting lineup but needed some help from his teammates while going 1-of-8 from beyond the arc on Tuesday. Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple and Dinwiddie combined to go 3-of-20 from beyond the arc in the win but swingman Joe Harris knocked down 5-of-9 from long range and finished with 24 points.

San Antonio star DeMar DeRozan scored 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting on Monday but was on the bench for the final 4:46 as coach Gregg Popovich went with Derrick White and Bryn Forbes in the backcourt. “It’s always tough to take,” DeRozan told reporters. “You want to be out there, compete, help your team win. It definitely sucks when you are not out there.” DeRozan is starting to become the subject of trade rumors and is averaging 20.9 points on 50.1 percent shooting with 5.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Nets C Jarrett Allen collected 12 points and 14 rebounds on Tuesday for his ninth double-double in the last 12 games.

White scored 16 points off the bench on Monday after being held to two in the previous game against the Phoenix Suns.

Brooklyn snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series with a 101-85 victory on Feb. 25.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Brooklyn Nets