The Philadelphia 76ers (52-32) will square off with the Brooklyn Nets (43-41) at the Barclay’s Center for Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 PM and scheduled to be televised on TNT. The 76ers responded with fury to Brooklyn’s Game One upset in the City of Brotherly Love. In Game Two, it was all Philly as the Sixers cruised to a 145-123 win to cover easily as an 8.5-point favorite.
Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets Overview
Philadelphia 76ers
Despite hitting just 12% of their three-point shots in Game One, the Sixers responded beautifully in Game Two with an overall stellar performance from the field. The 76ers managed to procure a 56.1% success rate in field goal percentage in Game Two, and they also hit 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets were on the wrong end of history in Game Two as they were the victim of a 51-point Third Quarter by the 76ers which set a team and playoff record for Philadelphia for most points scored in a quarter. As a result, Philadelphia found itself ahead by as much as 32 before they called off the dogs to ultimately win by 22.
Reasons To Back Philadelphia
Some of the sharper sportsbooks have priced this line half of a point higher than the trend across the sports betting world. In some cases, we have seen the Sixers priced as a three-point favorite while all others have them at -2.5. At first glance, I thought the line was a bit soft which would encourage action on Sixers from all the wrong channels, but this narrative convinces me that the market is actually trying to welcome money on the Nets. Given how Home Teams have been a cash cow throughout the playoffs so far, it wouldn’t surprise if me this was a corrective spot here to get a cover for an away team.
Reasons To Avoid Brooklyn
The Nets didn’t even look like they belonged on the same court with Philadelphia in Game Two. The Sixers outmuscled the Nets in the paint to outscore them 62-48. Moreover, Philly bullied Brooklyn on the glass as they produced a voluminous amount of rebounds in comparison as they collected 49 total boards to Brooklyn’s 32. The Sixers have a blueprint to follow in Game Three, and quite frankly I don’t know how the Nets will answer it.
- Get more details: 76ers at Nets NBA Match-up Stats
