The Philadelphia 76ers are in the Meadowlands tonight to take on division rival New Jersey at the IZOD Center. Both teams have struggled out of the break in their fight to make the playoffs. The action is set to get underway at 7:30pm ET and NBA Picks: Philadelphia 76ers vs New Jersey Nets at Bodoglife.com have the visiting 76ers listed as a -2 against the spread favorite.
Philadelphia is currently in second place in the Atlantic division with a 27-27 record. They are 16.5 games behind the Celtics and four games ahead of third place New Jersey. The 76ers, who have lost three games in a row since returning from the All-Star break, are clinging desperately to the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference overall standings.
Philadelphia had won four straight prior to the All-Star game, but they were not able to sustain their momentum when play resumed. Their latest collapse occurred on Saturday in Miami when they lost 91-97 to the Heat. Despite 30 points on 50 percent field goal shooting from point guard Andre Miller, the 76ers hit just 37 percent from the floor as a team and 22 percent from three point range.
Lawrence Frank's team is just 10-15 on the road this year and 4-6 in division play. Their road scoring average of 94.6 ranks 26th in the league.
As bad as Philadelphia has been recently, the Nets have been even worse. They enter this division tilt having lost five games in a row, the last faltering coming at home against the lowly Wizards. Washington bested the Nets 107-96 at the IZOD Center on Friday night, dropping them to 24-32 overall and putting them two and a half games back of the Bucks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Nets were dominated by the Wizards on the boards, getting outrebounded 54 to 41. They also shot a meager 38 percent from the field against a team that is allowing an average of 47.7 percent this season. On a positive note, New Jersey did get 26 points and 10 assists from Devin Harris in the losing effort.
The Nets are just 11-17 at home this year; they have given up an average of 100.3 points per game visiting teams. They have defeated the 76ers twice this season, but both wins took place in Philadelphia.
Bodoglife.com's NBA Picks: Philadelphia 76ers vs New Jersey Nets
Philadelphia 76ers -2 (-110), Over 192 (-115)
New Jersey Nets +2 (-110), Under 192 (-105)
NBA Picks Betting Trend: Philadelphia is 6-0 against the spread in their last six games versus the Nets in New Jersey.
