Nets’ matchup against the Celtics will demonstrate if they can compete with Kevin Durant
The Brooklyn Nets were on a roll. They won 12 consecutive games and 16 of 17. Kevin Durant fell with a knee injury.
The Nets were performing very well with Kyrie Irving scoring close to 30 points per match and Durant scoring over 30. They had relied heavily on two stars. Now they must reinvent themselves with just one star. Durant will not be there for the next two weeks.
The Nets will face the Boston Celtics in a tough test of their post-Durant world. Boston is favored by 2.5 point at BetMGM. This is the Nets’ first match since Durant’s knee injury.
Sometimes, teams can rally after a key player is hurt. It is possible the Nets can do this with Durant but that would be risky. Boston is a risky wager on Thursday night. Durant is still one the NBA’s most valuable players, and it will be difficult for the Nets in the East to keep up with them long-term.
T.J. Warren, Royce O’Neale, and Seth Curry will all be scoring more. Ben Simmons has been a vital part of the Nets, but his scoring has dropped. It will take a team effort to figure out how Durant can be replaced at 29.7 points per games.
Irving could be a major player in the coming weeks. Durant is taking 18 shots per games and Irving is scoring 26 points. Irving could be deciding to take the offense on his own in the coming games so keep an eye out for Irving props.
Durant will be back, and the Nets will still be the East’s top team by the playoffs. It’s hard to imagine what they will look like without Durant.
Here’s the rest of the sports betting slate for Thursday:
More from the NBA
Six games are scheduled in the NBA Thursday night. This includes most of the top Eastern Conference teams. The Philadelphia 76ers are 10.5 points favorites over the Oklahoma City Thunder team, which is 25-16 against spread despite an 18-24 straight up record. OKC is a strong underdog, particularly getting double digits. After beating the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will now face the Miami Heat on the following day. The Heat are 2.5 points ahead of the Bucks, which is probably fair considering their history without Khris Midton. The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to travel west. They’re 2.5-point favorites over the Portland Trail Blazers.
You can also find college hoops
It’s not the busiest night in college basketball, but there are a few intriguing games. Gonzaga at BYU might be the best. The Cougars are usually tough at home and they’re 6.5-point favorites over Gonzaga. The Bulldogs won nine straight games but lost close matches on the road to San Francisco and Santa Clara their last two games.
The rest of this schedule
There’s a little bit for everyone. There are 12 NHL matches, and some excellent ones. The Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders is the best. The Wild are -115 favorite.
There’s an English Premier League match between Fulham and Chelsea, with Chelsea as a -110 favorite on the three-way line. The PGA Tour continues with Sony Open. Tom Kim is the favorite at +1100.
Which is the best option?
I will be attending the college game and taking BYU. Gonzaga hasn’t been very good on the road lately, and BYU can be a difficult place to play. While I don’t know if the Cougars will win straight up, it is something that they should do.