Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets - 8/2/20 NBA Picks and Prediction
Photo by Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Wizards (24-41) at Brooklyn Nets (30-35)
NBA Basketball: Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 2:00 pm (HP Field House)
The Line: Brooklyn Nets -1.5 -- Over/Under: 236 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Two struggling teams collide as the Washington Wizards take on the Brooklyn Nets at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Washington Wizards have struggled with injuries all season and it was on display once again in the team's 125-112 loss to the Suns on Friday. Rui Hachimura led the team with 21 points and eight rebounds on eight of 15 shooting, Jerome Robinson added 20 points on seven of nine shooting off the bench while Ish Smith chipped in with 17 points and seven assists. As a team, the Wizards shot 46.2 percent from the field and eight of 22 from the 3-point line, but their problems remained on the defensive end as they were always fighting an uphill battle after allowing the Suns to pour in 67 points in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are in a similar situation as they're just looking to play out this forgettable season and it was evident in their 128-118 loss to the Magic on Friday. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot drained five 3-pointers to lead the team with 24 points off the bemch, Caris LeVert added 17 points with seven assists while Joe Harris and Jarrett Allen each scored 14 points. As a team, the Nets shot 48 percent from the field and 13 of 42 from the 3-point line as they exploded for an impressive 39 points in the first quarter, before getting absolutely dominated by the Magic in the second and third quarters by a combined 75-43, to see them trail by as many as 30 points before the reserves made the scores respectable late.
Looking at the betting trends, the Wizards are 1-8 ATS in their last nine Sunday games, 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss. The Nets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as a favorite, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record.
Head to head, the over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Brooklyn, the Wizards are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall and the Wizards are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings in Brooklyn.
It's always a tricky proposition trying to pick between two struggling teams with so little to play for. The Wizards have Hachimura as their best active player, while the Nets are coming into this one fresh off a beating at the hands of the Suns. This is certainly a game I'd rather steer clear of, but the Wizards were seriously bad on Friday, so I'm sticking with the Nets to get the win and cover here.
Peter’s Pick Brooklyn -1.5
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
