Eastern Conference foes are set to meet on Friday when the 76ers take on the Nets. For Philadelphia, all eyes will be on VJ Edgecombe, the third overall selection during June’s NBA Draft. He’ll face a Brooklyn squad stocked with five first-round picks this summer. Which side will come out on top tonight during this Summer League showdown?
DraftKings Sportsbook is listing the 76ers as 1.5-point favorites and -125 on the moneyline. The Nets are at +105 odds on the moneyline, and the game total is set at 179 points. Let’s break down both Summer League squads, players to watch, and a pick for the contest.
76ers vs. Nets preview, prediction
As of Friday afternoon, it remains to be seen if Edgecombe will suit up tonight. The guard missed Wednesday’s game vs. the Mavericks due to rest. However, that’s understandable on the second leg of a back-to-back. With a day off on Thursday, there’s a good chance the 19-year-old takes the floor. During his lone outing this summer, the Bahamian notched 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Baylor alum’s efficiency could improve, but that level of all-around production should have 76ers fans excited.
Edgecombe will be joined by several other players expected to play a significant role for Philly this season. Second-round pick Johni Broome has impressed, averaging 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds through four games. In spite of his poor shooting (33.3 FG%), Justin Edwards’ 12.3 PPG puts him in position to serve as a major contributor off the bench. Backup center Adem Bona’s 3.7 blocks per game in Vegas are second only to Washington’s Alex Sarr (5.5 BLK).
Philadelphia isn’t the only squad with young difference makers tonight. The Nets are in clear rebuilding mode, having traded away several key pieces over the past two seasons. After making five first-round selections last month, Brooklyn has plenty to figure out in regards to its rotation. Surprisingly, it’s a former undrafted free agent that’s led the way during Summer League. Gonzaga alum Drew Timme has been terrific so far, averaging a whopping 25.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Rookies Egor Demin (11.3 PPG) and Danny Wolf (10.0 PPG) have also looked solid in Vegas. The Nets finally picked up their first win on Wednesday, a 94-90 victory over Orlando.
76ers vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet
Neither team taking the floor tonight is lacking in NBA-ready pieces. However, it’s clear that the 76ers have the edge in on-court talent. Edgecomebe, the most promising player on both teams, is joined by a collection of scrappy, defensive-minded weapons such as Broome, Edwards, and Bona. The Nets, despite their assortment of first-rounders, have been heavily carried by Timme. Against a squad stocked with rim protectors, Brooklyn might need to look elsewhere on offense. That spells out a Philadelphia cover on Friday’s modest 1.5-point spread.
