New Jersey +7 over SAN ANTONIO
The New Jersey Nets try to sweep the second straight season series from the San Antonio Spurs in their first visit to the SBC Center tonight. The Nets swept season series from the Spurs and posted last year and enjoyed a 91-82 victory this season in New Jersey on November 13. San Antonio had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 104-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, while New Jersey was opening a four-game road trip with an 88-79 defeat at Dallas.
New Jersey coach Byron Scott, despite the end result against the Mavericks, was happy with his team's effort. It likely was the beginning for the Nets to emerge from their post-break funk. We expect them to give San Antonio a battle here for 48 minutes as they have done remarkably well against the Spurs. In fact, Jersey is a jaw-dropping 11-0 ATS vs. San Antone, including covering the number in their last 5 road games vs. the Spurs. The Nets suffered more turnovers than assists in the Dallas loss, and we note that Jason Kidd and crew are 5-0-1 ATS on the road following such a loss. Since the start of the 2000 season, they are 4-1 ATS as a road dog off a road loss vs. an opponent off a home defeat. The Spurs, on the other hand, are a perfectly dreadful 0-5 ATS as a single-digit home favorite in such games since the start of the '97 season.
In their last loss, San Antonio allowed Phoenix to shoot better than 55% from the field, and they now face a team that is 10-0 ATS as a road dog to such opponents. Since 2002, the Spurs are 1-5 ATS as a Thursday home fave, while the Nets are a sizzling 8-0 ATS in the opposing role, winning all three games SU since the start of last season. They could very well win this one as well. Either way, the game should be decided in the final moments as New Jersey covers the number here.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: SAN ANTONIO 92 NEW JERSEY 90