The Brooklyn Nets are fading fast and boosting their lottery chances. Here's a preview plus where the bets swing toward.
The Brooklyn Nets search for answers for ending this losing slide.
Meanwhile, they're facing a team very much in the race to land an NBA Draft Lottery selection too.
The YES Network will air the evening's contest between the Nets and New Orleans Pelicans, taking place inside the Smoothie King Center in the Big Easy. NBA League Pass is another option for fans who want to tune into the battle.
Here now is Fernie Ruano with tonight's betting preview:
We have hurry on up and take our seats for ‘The Tanking Bowl’.
The Brooklyn Nets (11-26, 13th in the Eastern Conference) might have met their match, as one of the worst teams in NBA’s Eastern Conference visits the New Orleans Pelicans (9-33, 15th in the Western Conference) for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Pelicans, losers of their last two games and 10 of 11 dating back to Dec. 23, are not only currently the NBA’s worst team — by record — but playing on the second night of a back-to-back in this spot.
Brooklyn (-1.5, -105), 6-9 on the road this season and 16.5 games back of the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Detroit Pistons, is coming off a 113-105 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
As per usual, the Nets, on a four-game losing streak, hung for three quarters, before faltering down the stretch.
Brooklyn has lost seven of their last eight games.
The over/under is 228.5 points, as per DraftKings Sportsbook.
The underdog Pelicans , (+1.5, -105) to pull off the mild upset, are 6-18 overall on their home floor this season.
But the Pelicans current status might be the least of their concerns as New Orleans, dealing with an uncertain future and a host of injuries, including to much-maligned forward Zion Williamson, looks to stay afloat for another two and a half months.
Question is: Will it be with or without Williamson (right hip adductor strain), probable for tonight and who has long held the franchise back with a number of injuries in recent years, including lower body soreness (2024), a hamstring issue (2023) and a right foot fracture (2021).
Williamson, averaging 22.3 points per game for the Pelicans this season, has missed over 270 games in his six NBA seasons.
Micheal Porter Jr. is averaging a team-leading 25.9 points per game for the Nets.
Nets forward Haywood Highsmith (knee) continues to be out, while Noah Clowney (back soreness) is probable.
Jose Alvarado (oblique strain), Dejounte Murray (Achilles rupture), Herb Jones (ankle sprain/calf strain) and F Hunter Dickinson (G League assignment) are all out for the Pelicans.
Nets vs. Pelicans betting analysis:
The Nets, who covered the spread in their only time as a -2 favorite or more this season, are a kinda respectable 5-5 against the spread and 3-7 overall in last 10 games.
But with this being the NBA’s unofficial’Tank Bowl’ with both teams already making big plans for the 2026 NBA Draft, it’s hard to justify recommending either side in this spot.
However, I would take a serious look at the total of 228.5.
And possibly go over.
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