The Nets are supposed to be strengthened with a key starter's return. But is it enough to change the betting line? Here's also where to watch
Michael Porter Jr. is expected to see his old teammates again -- on the court this time facing the Denver Nuggets.
His return from an undisclosed illness highlights Sunday's tilt between his former team and the Brooklyn Nets, with tip off set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
The YES Network with Noah or Ian Eagle will have coverage of the game for the East Coast audience. Vince Carter often joins as a color commentator.
Fans also have the NBA League Pass option -- $114.99 for the premium package (comes with no commercials and more in-arena access) and the standard at $79.99 (commercials and limited in-arena access).
Altitude Sports is one more outlet fans can turn to -- more so on the side of the Nuggets. Altitude is the flag ship home of both the NBA franchise and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
It’s not exactly a summer’s day right now in Brooklyn, New York, where a quick check of the weather forecast calls for 30-degree temperatures in the coming days.
But the slumping Nets (10-22, 13th in Eastern Conference), aiming to end - or so we think - a three-game losing streak as +2.5 point underdogs (-108) vs. the Nuggets (23-11, 4th in the Western Conference) at Barclays Center on Sunday, already seem to warming up to the idea of betting big on the 2026 NBA Draft.
Brooklyn, once again struggling on the boards and shooting from beyond the arc and coming off a 119-99 loss at Washington Friday night, is +118 on the moneyline to pull off the upset vs. the Nuggets.
Denver (-2.5, -112) is -142 on the moneyline.
The over/under is 225 (o -110, u -110) for the 3:30 p.m. (ET) tipoff.
Oddly, if you’re a Nets fan and live in Brooklyn and/or are in the area for the next six days , you can witness Brooklyn’s assertion towards the top of next April’s draft for yourself as your favorite NBA basketball team will be playing three straight games at home.
The Nets, after a respectable 7-4 December that gave their most loyal of fans hope the downtrodden franchise had eliminated tanking from their 2025-26 itinerary, have reverted to their customary ways in recent days, including being out-rebounded 51-33 by a Wizards team going nowhere.
The Nets shot 21% (6-of-29) from 3-point range. Brooklyn, 4-13 on their home floor, has been non-competitive in recent losses to the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
The Nets, playing their third game in four days, are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall and 5-4-1 against the spread.
The Nets, who have covered the spread in just 14 of 32 games, are 4-6 straight up in their last 10 home games.
Led offensively by Micheal Porter Jr. (25.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and xx assists), despite Porter missing the previous two games with an illness. But again, he's listed as probable.
The Nets, averaging a lowly 108.9 points per game on 44.8 % shooting from the floor this season, have been getting a solid contribution from Drake Powell (14.0 points ) over his last 10 games.
F/C Nic Claxton is averaging 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Nets. Yet he's not expected to play due to personal reasons.
Brooklyn is holding opponents to 106.1 points per game.
Denver, out Nikola Jovic (knee) for close to a week after their star center went down with a knee injury vs. the Heat in Miami, is 13-6 on the road.
The Nuggets, just 5-5 in their last 10 games, lead the Western Conference at 124.6 points a game (on 50.8 % shooting from the floor).
Jamal Murray, seemingly the only starter currently standing on a banged-up squad, is averaging 25.4 points, 6.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds on 48% shooting from the floor this season.
The Nets, 6-10-1 against the spread at home, is playing for the third time in four days in this spot.
Brooklyn also hasn’t been very competitive during its current losing streak, which could be an indication that the tanking is … on full volume.
However, the Nets, a rare favorite in Washington on Friday night, have been in most of their home games in recent weeks — despite losing their last two at Barclays Center in blowout fashion.
I would leave this one alone and instead order a pastrami sandwich from Katz Deli.
Betting analyst Fernie Ruano contributed to this report.