When: 7:30 PM EST; Wednesday, April 8th, 2015
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES
Winners of seven of their last eight games, coming off a win over the shorthanded Trail Blazers at Barclays on Monday, the Nets take on another playoff team missing some key contributors at home in Brooklyn tonight. The Nets, currently the No. 7 seed in the East, need a win to keep some breathing room between them and the Celtics, Heat, Pacers, etc.
Atlanta doesn’t have Paul Millsap (shoulder), John Jenkins (illness) or Thabo Sefolosha or Pero Antic, both of whom were involved in a reported stabbing outside of a Manhattan club early Wednesday morning in which Pacers forward Chris Copeland was attacked. Sefalosha and Antic weren’t injured in the incident and didn’t injure anyone else but they both were arrested for obstruction of justice and were released later today. Now, they are back with the team but–in all likelihood–won’t suit up.
The Hawks missing these key pieces is why the Nets are actually favored in this game by a healthy 4.5 points. Normally, a team 22 games ahead of its opponent in the standings wouldn’t be the underdog but Atlanta has clinched all it could possibly clinch for awhile now and has absolutely nothing to play for. Still, that didn’t stop the Hawks from crushing the Suns 96-69 last night in Atlanta. Don’t underestimate this team, even without Millsap.
Probable Lineups
ATL- Jeff Teague (PG), Kyle Korver (SG), DeMarre Carroll (SF), Mike Muscala (PF), Al Horford (C)
BKN- Deron Williams (PG), Markel Brown (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final Thoughts
The Nets are still without Alan Anderson (ankle) but could use a fifth-consecutive home win in the worst way. Would be nice to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the team you owe your 2015 first-round pick to.
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