NBA Picks: Washington Wizards at New Jersey Nets
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
Two of the NBA’s worst teams will square off tonight when the Washington Wizards go on the road to take on the New Jersey Nets. Washington lost 103-89 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, and have no lost nine of their last ten games. The Wizards will look to snap a 12 game road losing streak tonight against New Jersey. The Nets haven’t had much luck winning either lately. New Jersey has lost eight straight, including four in a row at home. The Nets lost 82-77 to the 76ers last night. Washington have won four straight in New Jersey, but will be without many of their key players tonight. Looking at the NBA spreads for tonight’s games the oddsmakers have the Nets favored by 6-points over the Wizards at home.
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Washington will likely be without rookie John Wall, Andray Blatche, and Yi Jianlian, as all three deal with knee injuries. That puts added pressure on Gilbert Arenas to play well, as they really need his scoring to win this game. Arenas comes in averaging just over 17 points and five assists per game. Arenas won’t be able to do it on his own, guys like Kirk HInrich, Nick Young, and AL Thorton must contribute, or the Wizards road woes will continue.
The Nets have really struggled to get their offense going this season, as they come in averaging just 92.7 points per game. To help out the situation the Nets went out and added Sasha Vujacic in a three team deal with the Lakers and Rockets, that sent veteran Joe Smith to the Los Angeles. The Nets also got two first round picks out of the deal. The Nets offense could get a big boost from a Wizards defense that is allowing 113 points per game on the road.
New Jersey will need a big game out of Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. The two combined for 30 points last night against the 76ers, but got just 8 points from the other three starters. Travis Outlaw did a nice job coming off the bench with 14 points and seven rebounds, but this team needs more than just these three guys to step up and play well.
If Wall and Blatche are unable to play tonight, I think you have to take the Nets to win this game at home. It may seem like a lot to lay six points on a team that has won just six games all season, but its will be hard for the Wizards to play well without two of their best offensive weapons.
For more help on who to take, check out what our expert handicappers have to offer in their NBA picks.
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