Can the Nets snap the slide? Or are they thinking about the draft lottery? Here's how to watch and betting line.
The Brooklyn Nets walk in facing a team they previously beat one month prior -- but have a losing skid to snap.
And they're dealing with the constant moving rumor mill involving Michael Porter Jr. and whether he'll be traded.
Brooklyn takes on a Chicago Bulls team they beat 113-103 in December. But now the Nets face roster questions ahead of the league's trade deadline.
Nets fans can watch the game at 4 p.m. on ESPN. The YES Network, though, will provide local coverage in the New York region. Even Fubo and Sling TV are two streaming options featuring subscription options.
Fernie Ruano now has your betting preview -- leading off with thoughts of a possible future Nets player:
"Mom...What do you think: Midtown Manhattan or Long Island?"
That's probably the only question right now keeping Duke's all-world freshman Cameron Boozer up all night?
And the way the Nets (11-27, 13th in the Eastern Conference) have been performing lately, Boozer, likely to be amongst the Top 3 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft next April, better have an answer real soon.
The Nets (-2, -110), in the rare spot of being a home favorite vs. the Chicago Bulls (19-21, 10th in the Eastern Conference) Friday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, are -126 on the moneyline, while the Bulls are +110, as per DraftKings Sportsbook.
The over/under is 226.5 points (o -108, u -112)
But after seeming to be turning the corner in December, when the Nets, 17-18-3 against the spread this season, went 7-4 on the strength of improved overall defense and rebounding, Brooklyn, a short road favorite at tipoff Wednesday night against Memphis before losing 116-113 to the Grizzlies to extend their current losing streak to five games, has reverted to its old way in recent weeks.
Brooklyn, 8-11-1 against the spread at home this season, is currently averaging 108.8 points per game, in addition to pulling down 42.9 boards per game, which is ranked last in the NBA.
In the process, the Nets, who have given up 113 points or more in three of their last five games, have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games, with their most recent victory coming nearly two weeks ago vs. the Denver Nuggets as young star Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
And while we're on Porter Jr., playing on a one-year, $5.9 million qualifying offer and averaging a team-best 25.7 points per game to go with 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists (a contest), but who very well could be counting down his days a Net, the 27-year-old is likely to be coveted in the coming weeks by postseason contenders looking for a an above-average shooting 6'10" forward that adds size on the wing.
Brooklyn, back home after dropping three straight road games and a lowly 5-14 at home this season, has lost its last two games at Barclays Center and six of their last 10 games.
The Nets, 8-16 vs. Eastern Conference opponents this season, is 1-4 in its last five games in Brooklyn.
Oddly, the Nets have wins this season against three of the five teams — the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets — with the best records in the league, but are 1-7 on Friday nights.
Brooklyn, 5-15 at home this season, leads the season series vs. the Bulls 1-0, thanks to a 113-103 victory in early-December. as a 6.5 road underdog behind 33 points from Michael Porter Jr.
The Bulls (+2, -110), coming off a 128-126 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, are 2-3 in their last five games and 7-12 on the road.
Chicago, with five players averaging in double figure points, is getting 14.8 points per game from Nikola Vucevic.
The Nets continue to list F Haywood Highsmith (knee), who is likely to miss another 3-4 weeks at least, as out, while the Bulls will be without G Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Zach Collins. (right toe sprain).
Giddey is averaging 19.2 points per game.
Bulls vs. Nets betting analysis:
Kind of too short of a betting line favoring the Nets, considering Brooklyn has its sights set on April and have been really bad at home - on Friday nights.
I would, however, lean a bit to the under total of 226.5.
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