NBA Picks: New Orleans Hornets at New Jersey Nets
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The New Jersey Nets will host the New Orleans Hornets in a battle between two teams that are really struggling to get things going. Both teams are just 1-5 in their last six games, and come into the game tonight having lost three straight.
Our NBA spreads for this game have the Hornets favored by 2.5-points over the Nets with the total sitting at 184.5.
New Orleans was no match for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, falling 104-92 at home. The defensive minded Hornets have allowed 100 points in all five of their losses during their 1-5 stretch.
The Nets got rolled by the Pacers 105-86 on Sunday, their third straight loss of 10 points or more, and second straight at home.
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A big reason for the Hornets struggle on the defensive side of the ball is the fact that they have had to play the last four games without starting center Emeka Okafor, who isn’t expected to return tonight. New Orleans will also likely be without Trevor Ariza.
New Orleans held the Timberwolves to just 43.0% shooting, but Minnesota went a perfect 25-25 from the free throw line, and the Hornets managed to shoot just 41.7%.
Chris Paul had a solid game with 17 points and 13 assists. David West led the Hornets with 18 points, and Marco Belinelli helped out with 15. Aaron Gray started at center for Okafor, and finished with just four points to go with eight rebounds.
The Hornets were able to beat the Nets 105-91 at home back on Dec. 22, but Okafor had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Ariza helped out with eight points, four rebounds, and four assists.
It looked as though the Nets were about to break out and start playing some better basketball, after they won four of five from Jan. 19-Jan. 26, but instead they have really fallen off.
A big reason for that is they aren’t getting the same production out of Brook Lopez in the middle. Lopez is averaging just 15 points in February after scoring 20.4 a game in Janurary. Lopez had just 13 points in the Nets loss to Indiana.
Devin Harris tied Lopez with 13 points, and Anthony Morrow chipped in 11, but no other New Jersey player scored in double-figures. The Nets offense just hasn’t been good at all lately. New Jersey is averaging just 86.7 points over their last three games.
While both teams aren’t playing good, I think the right play is on the Nets at +2.5. New Jersey will be looking to not only revenge an earlier loss to the Hornets, but New Orleans is currently without two starters, which just so happen to be two of their best defenders.
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