The 2023 NBA playoffs are set to tip off this weekend, which means we have a plethora of Game 1s to tackle. The first official showdown on the docket: The Philadelphia 76ers vs. the Brooklyn Nets.
Though this series has yet to begin, many are already declaring it over. The Nets are not the same team after trading away both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, while the Philadelphia 76ers have been on a relative tear, largely thanks to the MVP favorite Joel Embiid. These sentiments are reflected as much in the latest NBA online betting odds for Game 1, which you can see below:
Please remember to double-check these odds for the 2023 NBA playoffs until you actually submit your wager. Our 76ers vs. Nets betting odds are accurate entering Wednesday, April 13. With tip-off not scheduled until 1 p.m. EST on Saturday April 15, this will give linemakers plenty of time to change the opening numbers. We have already seen some movement on the point spread, which we will get to in a bit.
On the bright side, you don't have to worry about remaining up to date on the newest Sixers vs. Nets betting odds if you join up with the right sportsbook. Luckily, we're here to help. Our reviews of the top online sportsbooks are designed to help you find the right fit for everything you need. After giving them a look, you should have no trouble spotting the best online betting sites for the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Who will take Game 1 between the Sixers and Nets? And how about the odds to win this NBA playoff series? Let's get to our Sixers vs. Nets Game 1 picks!
The Philadelphia 76ers are an Easy Choice in Game 1
The Philadelphia 76ers could not have asked for a better first-round matchup. The Cleveland Cavaliers or New York Knicks would have been tougher to handle if they landed in the four-to-five range. Sticking at No. 3 in the East also ensures they avoid a potential matchup with the Miami Heat, who have yet to make it out of the play-in but pose a bunch of defensive challenges.
This is not meant to dismiss the Nets. They have an intriguing mix of talent. Brooklyn is stocked with plenty of wings who can chase around James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, and Mikal Bridges has made a star turn since coming over from the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade.
Ah, yes, the Kevin Durant trade. That's where this analysis starts to shift. The Nets no longer have a from-scratch creator capable of annihilating playoff defenses after dealing Durant and Kyrie Irving. Bridges is good. So is Spencer Dinwiddie. They're not that good. The Nets will find themselves relying a lot on Cam Johnson or Patty Mills or Joe Harris or Seth Curry or Royce O'Neale or maybe even Cam Thomas to make decisions off the dribble. That's not a great spot to be.
Furthermore, while Brooklyn has bodies to throw at Philly's point of attack creators, they're not equipped to defend Joel Embiid. Ben Simmons is out for the year with a back injury, and both Nicolas Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe, while tall bodies, don't have the strength to tussle with the MVP favorite when he works on the block and from the outside in. The Nets can and will double-team Embiid, but he's improved at finding the open man in those situations.
Many will flinch at the Sixers moneyline in this one. It doesn't offer a great return. Get used to it. The entire playoff series between the Sixers and Nets is going to be like this. If we're being honest, we'll be shocked if this first-round matchup lasts longer than five games.
OSB Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers (-370)
Will the Brooklyn Nets Struggle to Keep Game 1 Close?
You can see the latest NBA point spread betting odds for Game 1 of Sixers vs. Nets just below:
- Philadelphia 76ers, -8.5 (-110)
- Brooklyn Nets, +8.5 (-110)
There are larger payouts to be gleaned from the Nets vs. Sixers point spread. Typically, we'd be reluctant to invest in any teams winning a Game 1 by double digits. The opening contest is normally a feeling-out process for both sides. We should also take into account that James Harden is dealing with an Achilles injury and has a history of performing poorly in the playoffs.
Ultimately, though, the Nets just don't have the firepower for us to believe they'll keep a road game all that close. Their offense has looked jagged at times since the trade deadline, and things could turn ugly if Embiid gets their bigs into foul trouble early in the game. We're also not sure where the Nets turn if Philly's defense shuts down Mikal Bridges. They have a few bodies to throw at him in De'Anthony Melton and P.J. Tucker, and Bridges isn't yet equipped as a playmaker for others to capitalize on star coverages.
Other games in this series might be close. We don't think this one will be.
OSB Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers, -8.5 (-110)
Oddsmakers Expect Sixers vs. Nets to be a Low-Scoring Affair
Here are the latest NBA over/under betting odds for Game 1 of the Nets vs. Sixers series:
- Over 215.5 (-110)
- Under 215.5 (-110)
While this over/under is on the lower end, we have to take the "under" anyway. The Nets don't play particularly fast or efficiently on the offensive end, and we know the Sixers will look to slow things down and survey the half-court.
Granted, this prediction could get away from us if the Sixers and Nets go on a trademark three-point barrage. But with how deliberate Philly plays and how undermanned Brooklyn is on offense, we're expecting at least one of them to finish with fewer than 100 points.
OSB Prediction: Under 215.5
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