New Jersey is set to begin a four-game road trip on West Coast – First stop: Golden State
Since winning at the Oracle Arena Jan. 26, 2005, the Nets have been outscored in Golden State by an average of 8.5 points per game
The New Jerseys Nets are playing their first of a four-game western road swing Friday night and are getting points against a Golden State Warriors team that is 2-8 straight-up in its past 10. Online sportsbooks currently show Warriors -3.5 points and given the magnitude of this game, there has been very little activity.
Golden State put up a good fight Tuesday night against the Lakers but followed it with a 102-87 setback vs. New Orleans on Wednesday. They were 10-3 ATS in the back-to-back heading into that contest but had nothing left after rallying from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit, only to fall short.
Nate Robinson (hamstring) made his return from a two-game layoff vs. the Hornets but was held off the scoresheet, going 0-for-9 from the floor. Robinson averages 10.4 PPG on the season and scored 13.4 PPG in the seven games prior to the injury so expect a better contribution from him tonight.
DON’T GO WEST, YOUNG MAN
The Nets are 0-3 ATS in their past six visits to Oracle and as mentioned, have lost six in a row straight-up but this is not the only building they’ve struggled in on the left coast. Here are some recent trends documenting the Nets vs. teams from the Pacific:
TRAILBLAZERS: Nets are 3-14 SU since 1994 and 9-8 ATS. In seven of the nine covers, New Jersey was getting +5.5 points or more
CLIPPERS: Nets are 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS since 2004
KINGS: Nets are 1-11 SU and 3-8-1 ATS since 1999
LAKERS: Nets are 4-10 SU and 6-7-1 ATS since 1999 but the only two covers in the past six years, New Jersey was getting +13.5 and +6.5 points
NBA PICKS
The past six home wins in this series were by 8.5 points and even if Robinson can’t go, the Nets are rolling with one of the thinnest lineups in the league. It’s not the most glamorous game on the board but when betting sports, trying to be the hero is not in the formula for success.
Pick: Take the Warriors