The Orlando Magic come to Barclays Center, but are the Nets the favorite after stunning the Nuggets recently?
The Brooklyn Nets snapped a three-game slide by knocking off the Denver Nuggets. Now they'll aim to knock off another team above .500 in the Orlando Magic -- amid some big trade rumblings.
The Nets are linked to Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, with Erik Slater of ClutchPoints revealing Wednesday that the All-Star views Brooklyn as a potential destination.
As for the current Nets players, where can fans tune into tonight's action?
The YES Network once again will air the contest with either Ian or Noah Eagle on the call. One will likely be joined by Vince Carter, who joined the NBC Showtime crew on Tuesday night. The past Nets star serves as color commentator for YES.
NBA League Pass (premium at $114.99 with no commercials, standard at $79.99 with less in-arena access and commercials aired) is another option. Fans of the Magic can tune in via FanDuel Sports Network Florida.
But are the Nets the favorite here? Here's Fernie Ruano with the betting preview:
Thirty-six years ago, comedian Colin Quinn satirically spit lyrically about the pleasures about pizza, old-school vibes and Italian phrases while not entirely longing a return in 'Going Back to Brooklyn.'
''I'm going back to Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn/I'm going back to Brooklyn ... I don't think so."
Apparently, Quinn also had the Brooklyn Nets in mind. The 11-22 Nets, currently +2-point home underdogs (-110) for their 7:30 p.m. (ET) tipoff vs. the Orlando Magic (20-17) at the Barclays Center .. in you guessed it, Brooklyn, New York.
Brooklyn, +114 on the moneyline to pull a mild upset, started the season 0-9 at home before beating the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 1, is 4-4 since getting their first home win of the season and 2-3 in Brooklyn in last five games overall, which includes a 127-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets, last Sunday.
Michael Porter Jr., facing the Nuggets for the first time since being traded away last summer, scored 27 points with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a revenge spot against his former team to help the Nets snapped a three-game losing streak. Porter Jr. is averaging a team-leading 25.9 points per game for Brooklyn. However, the Nets, a respectable 5-5 in their last 10 games, although they've lost three out of their last four, are just 5-13 overall at home, where they play the Clippers on Friday night before beginning a three-game road trip.
Brooklyn, 3-5 this season when playing on two days of full-rest or more, are 7-10-1 against the spread at home. Orlando, coming off a 120-112 loss against the Washington Wizards and playing a back-to-back, is -134 on the moneyline. The over/under is 227.5 (o, 108, u -112).
The Nets, who have just 15 wins against the spread in 33 games this season, are 1-0 against the spread vs. Orlando this season. The Magic (-2, 110), 8-11 on the road this season, defeated the Nets 105-98 in NBA Cup play, last November.
Haywood Highsmith (right knee surgery) and F Ben Saraf (left knee soreness) are out for Brooklyn. Orlando, out F Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) and G Jalen Suggs (right knee MCL contusion), in addition to Moritz Wagner (left knee), is 3-2 when playing on the second game of a back-to-back this season. Star F Paolo Banchero (20.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game) paces the Magic's offense, which could spell trouble for a Nets defense that struggles to contend with opposing frontcourts that are athletic.
The Nets will likely see the return of C Nic Claxton (13.5 points per game), who missed the last two games due to personal reasons.
This line is currently quite short - despite the Nets struggles at home this season. Perhaps, the fact that Orlando, playing on consecutive nights, has been average in recent weeks has the oddsmakers predicting a tight one in Brooklyn. Go get a slice and leave this alone, kids.