NBA 2022/23, on Tuesday, 13.12.2022
In the shadow of the all-overshadowing World Cup in Qatar, the NBA features a matchup between the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets in which the home side should not be underestimated.
Once again, the Capital Bullets will probably not find a means to stop Kevin Durant. But their toughness should at least give the New Yorkers a run for their money – at least that’s what I’m assuming in my Wizards Nets tip!
I saw the win over the Hawks coming, but I wouldn’t have bet on another Nets win in the next game against the Pacers. Because the losses were numerous.
Eight regulars were absent against Indiana, including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Joe Harris, Royce O’Neale and Nic Claxton. But when things are going well, Brooklyn seems to be going well in every line-up, because in the end they still got the “W”.
The Nets are now definitely one of the teams that everyone has to take into account. Since their crushing defeat as guests in Sacramento, their record is 10-3.
When a team is doing as well as the Nets are currently doing, I would “normally” put my money on them even when their starting five is missing so many regulars.
Especially when the upcoming opponent has already suffered six losses in a row. An extension of this negative streak of the Wizards by another game also seems to receive “statistical tailwind” from the analysts.
After all, the Capital Bullets already started the 2021/22 season last year with an initially promising record of 10-3, only to lose 12 of their subsequent 17 games – that trend looks set to repeat in exactly the same form this year.
Another reason why the Wizards are currently suffering one defeat after another is also related to their difficult schedule, which will demand much more from the team in the coming weeks.
After all, 12 of the 14 teams the Capital Bullets will have to play after their outing last Thursday at the Bulls have a positive record – including, of course, the Nets.
Now, one could argue that Brooklyn can hold their own without their superstars under these conditions as guests in Washington, but the whole affair is guaranteed not to be that easy tonight.
The Wizards are a highly competitive bunch, even with their current lineup. Only because of one small, but not unimportant detail, I still don’t trust them to win tonight!
NBA superstar Kevin Durant will be back in the starting five of the visitors, according to various reports, and thus will probably tip the scales in their favour.
As well as Durant is playing at the moment, the home side will probably “once again” have no real chance of successfully stopping his smooth forays into their own half of the pitch.
Durantula already scored 39 points against Washington earlier this month. Still, the favoured New Yorkers only managed to edge out the fractious Wizards by a measly six points in the end (107-113).
I expect a similar scenario this time. Durantula will flash his individual class, but Washington will keep the game open until the end.
An odds boost, by the way, represents an additional opportunity to screw with the payout.
On the other hand, the average Wizards Nets odds are as follows: Win Washington 2.95, Win Brooklyn 1.48.
Conclusion: The Nets are currently riding a great wave of success, but are noticeably weak heading into a tough away game at Capital One Arena.
While some top players return tonight, this many personnel changes could also have an impact on their own game flow.
This could help the Wizards keep the game close. Especially since they can hold their own without NBA superstars – only Kevin Durant will probably not be able to get a grip on the Capital Bullets again.
My Wizards Nets tip: Home side to win at handicap +8.5.
