Teams looking to turn their recent fortunes around meet when the Washington Wizards battle the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. Brooklyn (29-25) has lost nine straight while the Wizards (24-29) have lost nine of their last 11 contests. Both teams traded away key players on Thursday as James Harden was sent to Philadelphia and the Wizards dealt away Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Injuries have also afflicted each side as the Nets will be without Kevin Durant (knee), LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) and Joe Harris (left ankle), while Washington is missing Bradley Beal (left wrist) and Daniel Gafford (protocols).
The game from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Nets are averaging 110.9 points per game this season, while the Wizards average 106.8. The Wizards are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Nets vs. Wizards odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 218. Before making any Wizards vs. Nets picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 65-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Wizards, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Wizards vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Wizards spread: Wizards -1.5
- Nets vs. Wizards over-under: 218 points
- BKN: The Nets are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game
- WAS: The under is 4-0 in the Wizards' last four game after allowing 100 or more points in their previous game
Why the Wizards can cover
Forward Kyle Kuzma has become a big part of Washington's success on offense, averaging 16.1 points, 2.8 assists and 8.7 rebounds per game. The former Laker has taken his game to another level since the calendar flipped to 2022 as he's putting up 21.4 points and 10 rebounds per contest in the new year. Kuzma already has more double-doubles (20) this season than he had over the last three seasons combined. He should be able to exploit a Nets team that is missing its entire starting frontcourt.
Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steal per game. He has 50 starts this season and has scored in double figures 30 times, including three 20-plus outings. Caldwell-Pope recorded his first double-double as a Wizard on Jan. 12 against Orlando, scoring 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. He tied a season-high with 26 points, knocking down 5 of 9 3-pointers, against Houston on Jan. 5.
Why the Nets can cover
Despite that, Washington isn't a lock to cover the Nets vs. Wizards spread. That's because Brooklyn still has a solid roster despite missing a good chunk of its lineup due to injury and trades. Point guard Kyrie Irving is coming off a 27-point, 11-assist effort in his last game at Denver on Sunday and he also had five rebounds, three blocks and one steal. For the season, Irving is averaging 23.2 points, 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. In one meeting against Washington this year, he scored 30 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Point guard Patty Mills has 36 starts in 53 games this season, averaging 13.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds. Mills, in his first season with the Nets after signing as a free agent, ranks fourth in NBA history in 3-pointers made off the bench. In two games against Washington this year, Mills is averaging 19 points, 3.5 rebounds and two assists in 30.4 minutes played. He has connected on 10 of 16 from 3-point range versus the Wizards this season.
How to make Wizards vs. Nets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 224 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Wizards? And which side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
