Everything’s bigger in Texas — including the point spread.
The San Antonio Spurs enter as commanding 11.5-point favorites when they host the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener at Frost Bank Center on Sunday afternoon. The Spurs return home riding the momentum from a pair of convincing road wins, while the Nets trudge into enemy territory still searching for their first win of the season.
Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. ET. San Antonio holds -550 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Brooklyn listed as a +410 underdog. The total is set at 227.5 points.
Nets vs. Spurs Preview
The Nets (0-2) may not have a win yet, but they’ve shown flashes of life in their first two games. They’re averaging over 120 points per game, recently pushing a tough Cleveland Cavaliers squad to the brink in a 131-124 thriller on Friday night.
Brooklyn has leaned heavily on the deep ball, a strategy that’s paid off early on. The team drained 33 threes in its first two games — fourth most in the NBA. Star guard Cam Thomas is leading the charge, averaging 24 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Defensively, though, the Nets are struggling. They’re corralling just 38 rebounds a game, 27th in the league, and their 126.5 defensive rating ranks second-worst in the NBA.
That’s a serious red flag against the scorching hot Spurs. San Antonio is putting up 122.5 points per game and opened the season with a 125-92 beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks. They haul in 55 rebounds per game (second in the NBA) and boast a league-leading 101.1 defensive rating.
San Antonio’s surge has been powered by superstar big man Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 unicorn is literally doing whatever he wants on the court, averaging 34.5 points and 13 rebounds a game. His dominance was on full display Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he posted a near triple-double with 29 points, 11 boards, and a whopping nine blocks. Yes, nine blocks.
Nets vs. Spurs Pick, Best Bet
This one has “blowout” written all over it. The San Antonio defense should smother the Brooklyn offense, and the Spurs are well-positioned to dominate the glass as well. It doesn’t seem like anyone can stop Wembanyama right now — and the Nets aren’t likely to be the first.
