Slumping Nets
East Rutherford,N.J. – New Jersey began a season-high four-game winning streak by beating Philadelphia last month. When the Nets host the 76ers, they’ll be trying to avoid a season-worst six-game slide.
New Jersey will also go for its third consecutive victory this season against a Philadelphia team that hasn’t won since returning from the All-Star break.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Heat 76ers -1 point spread favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 68% of more than 192 bets for this game have been placed on the 76ers -1.
The Nets (24-32) opened their four-game homestand Friday with a 107-96 loss to Washington. New Jersey was outrebounded 54-41 and outscored 60-36 in the lane.
"We didn’t play with a lot of energy," Devin Harris said after posting his ninth double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 assists. "We got our butts kicked inside, rebounding and giving up a lot of second-chance points. We just need everybody to hold their own and do what they do."
The Nets have been outrebounded by an average of 10.4 during their five-game skid. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounding at 42.7 per game.
Harris is having a career year – averaging 21.5 points – but is shooting just 40.2 percent from the field as New Jersey has lost eight of 12. Harris, though, has made 15-of-31 shots (48.4 percent) as the Nets won twice in Philadelphia this season.
New Jersey’s 85-83 victory over the 76ers on Jan. 31 sparked a season-high four-game winning streak.
Vince Carter had just seven points and six boards in that game as he sprained his right ankle. New Jersey rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit with Carter sidelined. Since that win, Carter is scoring 19.1 points per game on 42.1 percent shooting.
He missed 11-of-17 from the floor against the Wizards for 17 points.
"I’m just doing a poor job because I’m not getting these guys to play and compete as hard as we need to," said Nets coach Lawrence Frank, whose team last dropped six straight from March 2-10, 2008. "I am going to figure it out."
Brook Lopez has seemed to have figured it out. The rookie center has 12 double-doubles this season and is averaging 18.1 points, 10.0 boards and hitting 61.3 percent from the field in his last nine games.
Lopez had 24 points and a season-high 17 boards in the Jan. 31 win.
After winning four straight heading into the All-Star break, Philadelphia arrives at the Izod Center with three consecutive losses. The 76ers (27-27) began their four-game trip with a 97-91 loss to Miami on Saturday.
Andre Miller extended his NBA-best consecutive games streak to 502 by scoring a Philadelphia season-high 30 points and grabbing nine boards. Miller strained his right calf during the 76ers’ 101-89 loss to Denver on Wednesday.
"For a guy who was questionable coming in tonight, he was fantastic," Philadelphia interim coach Tony DiLeo said.
Philadelphia leading scorer Andre Iguodala looks to break out of a shooting slump Monday. He is making just 32.5 percent from the field and scoring 14.7 points per game during the losing streak.
Iguodala has averaged 19.0 points, 8.5 boards and 3.0 assists in the two losses to New Jersey in 2008-09.
The last four games in New Jersey in this series have been decided by an average of 5.0 points, with neither team winning by more than nine.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Basketball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
Posted: 2/23/09 2:00AM ET