Nets vs 76ers Odds, Spread, Injuries & Picks for Game 1

Published: April 14, 2023 at 6:48 pm EDT

Joel Embiid works versus the Nets defense — Feb 11, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) and forward Mikal Bridges (1) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia is an 8.5-point favorite in the Nets vs 76ers odds in Game 1 of their First Round playoff series
The 76ers are -900 to win the best-of-seven game series
Don’t miss the latest Nets vs 76ers Game 1 odds here, plus betting splits, trends and predictions

With the Play-in Tournament in the rearview mirror, the NBA playoffs officially launch on Saturday. The first contest of the four-game slate pits the Nets vs the 76ers, and online sportsbooks are extremely bullish on Philadelphia.

The NBA odds list the Sixers as the heavy chalk for Game 1, which shouldn’t come as any surprise given their regular season meetings. Philly swept the season series 4-0, outscoring Brooklyn by a total of 45 points.

Nets vs 76ers Game 1 Odds

Team	Spread	Moneyline	Total
Brooklyn Nets	+8.5 (-110)	+290	O 214.5 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers	-8.5 (-110)	-350	U 214.5 (-110)

The 76ers are currently laying 8.5 points, in a contest that features a total of 214.5. Tip-off is scheduled for 1pm ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage nationwide.

Philly finished with a 54-28 regular season record earning the East’s third seed, while Brooklyn posted a 45-37 mark to earn the conference’s sixth seed.

Odds as of April 14 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Nets vs 76ers Betting Splits

This contest has seen zero spread movement since Game 1 opening odds were released. At the current spread, Philadelphia is receiving 66% of the ATS handle, and that money is coming from 55% of the spread bets.

The 76ers boasted the second best cover rate in the NBA this season, beating the spread 58% of the time. They closed the season by covering in 10 of their final 16 games, and were 20-15-1 ATS as a home favorite.

tale of the tape.

🔒 @betwayusa | #GetItLocked pic.twitter.com/tkzhWOCDxH

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 15, 2023

The Nets, on the other hand, covered 52% of their contests, and were 15-9 ATS as road underdogs. They covered in two of their three meaningful meetings with Philly during the regular season, as their final contest was a battle of the backups.

Total wise, the number is actually down two points from its opener. The current line is 214.5, and bettors are pounding the over. 87% of the over/under tickets are expecting Game 1 to clear the number, as is 79% of all money wagered on the total.

Nets vs 76ers Betting Trends

On paper this series is a big mismatch. The 76ers are top-five contenders in the NBA Championship odds, while the Nets sport the longest title price of any team to automatically qualify for the playoffs.

Brooklyn actually produced a better record this season than last year, despite losing their top-two players, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to trades. The Nets received plenty of postseason experience as compensation for KD and Irving, adding the likes of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Ready to see more of these in the playoffs 👌@Hennessy | #SpiritoftheNBA pic.twitter.com/M2zBqWVetI

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 13, 2023

Brooklyn is well coached, and gives max effort at both ends of the court, making them a headache to play against. They’re overmatched in the talent department, but their grit and toughness will make them a tough out.

Philadelphia has been labelled soft in past postseasons after coming up short, but this year’s team is more suited for a physical battle. Players like PJ Tucker and De’Anthony Melton should drastically improve their defense, and we all know how gifted they are offensively.

Nets vs 76ers Series Odds

Team	Odds to Win Series
Brooklyn Nets	+600
Philadelphia 76ers	-900

Joel Embiid is an MVP odds finalist, after leading the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons. James Harden led the league in assists, while Tyrese Maxey averages over 20 points a night and shoots over 43% from three.

Oddsmakers have made the Sixers a -900 series favorite, while the series spread is Philly -2.5 games, with the juice heavily shaded towards the over.

Nets vs 76ers Predictions

Just because Brooklyn is a big ‘dog in both Game 1 and the series, that shouldn’t preclude you from backing the Nets against the spread. This line is inflated due to Brooklyn’s perceived lack of star power, but the things they do extremely well can certainly keep this game close.

For starters, Brooklyn defends very well. Bridges is one of the best defenders in the NBA, while the Nets have several other good wing defenders. Slowing down Embiid is going to be an issue, but if Bridges and Co. can limit the other Philly stars, things could get tight.

The Nets are a top-five three-point shooting team, with seven players shooting north of 37% from beyond the arc. Good defense and long range shooting is a great recipe for success in the playoffs, and one that Brooklyn can use to give Philly a scare in Game 1.

Pick: Brooklyn Nets +8.5 (-110)

Chris Amberley

Sports Writer

As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.

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