The “Play of the Day” saluted on Friday, with the Raptors being made to work by the Hawks, before eventually covering the four-point spread, at home. The Big Dog aims to build on the momentum of the last two days, as another busy ten-game Saturday presents a single play worth investing in. The “Play of the Day” is an early contest between two of the most underwhelming teams in the NBA, thanks to some late-breaking injury news. Tread with caution in most games outside of this one.
Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers
These two teams sit anchored to the very bottom of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers being the first team this season to be officially removed from playoff contention. The franchise that made tanking into an art form is currently on another 13-game losing streak and it would seem that even a home game against another struggling team isn’t going to provide any end to their misery, with the news that rookie Jahlil Okafor will be out for 4-6 weeks after knee surgery. Okafor leads the team in points per game (17.5), is second in rebounds per game (7.0) and third in blocked shots (1.15). His absence will leave a hole that the remaining players on the roster simply aren’t going to be able to fill. The stats don’t get any better for the home team, in regard to their performance against the spread. They are an awful 10-20-1 in front of their long-suffering fans, while the Brooklyn Nets have performed quite well on the road, going 18-11-2 against the spread. It may be a painful game to watch but The Big Dog can’t ignore the appeal of an otherwise bad Nets team, under these circumstances. Clearly the “Play of the Day”.
Selection
Brooklyn Nets -2.0 @ $1.95 (William Hill)
Tools
Results Spreadsheet
