How To Watch NBA Playoffs First-Round: 76ers at Nets Game 3
The 2022-23 NBA regular season has come to an end and with the Play-In Tournament coming to an end, it is officially time for the playoffs to begin!
On Thursday night, the first-round series between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers will continue, as the two teams will meet in Brooklyn for Game 3.
Looking to steal one of the first two games on the road, the Nets were unsuccessful in their efforts, as the 76ers came up with two straight double-digit victories to kick things off in this first-round series.
In Game 2, the Nets offense struggled to get anything going as they scored just 84 points. This was Brooklyn’s lowest scoring output in a game since June 10, 2021 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Shooting just 37.5 percent from the floor and 31.0 percent from three-point range as a team, the Nets couldn’t buy a basket against Philadelphia. Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges combined for 49 points, but the rest of the team combined for just 35 points on 13-44 shooting, just 29.5 percent from the floor.
On the other side of things, the 76ers shot 45 percent from the floor and they were led by not Joel Embiid nor James Harden, but Tyrese Maxey with 33 points. While he did score 20 points, Embiid made his impact felt on the glass, as this season’s presumable MVP tallied 19 rebounds.
With another win over the Nets, the 76ers will inch a victory away from yet another trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Can Philadelphia take a commanding 3-0 series lead or will Brooklyn show some life at home?
Here's how to watch Thursday’s game, with game time and TV, lineups, bios and other must-know details.
How to watch 76ers vs. Nets
WHO: Philadelphia 76ers (2-0) vs. Brooklyn Nets (0-2)
WHAT: 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs: First-Round, Game 3
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 20
WHERE: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
TV: TNT
Key Stats & Facts For 76ers vs. Nets
- The Nets and 76ers faced off four times during the regular season with the 76ers winning all four games, outscoring the Nets by 45 points.
- The 76ers finished the regular season ranking 4th in offensive rating and 8th in defensive rating, while the Nets finished the regular season ranking 17th in offensive rating and 13th in defensive rating.
- Brooklyn is 23-18 at home this season and Philadelphia is 25-16 on the road, including postseason games.
What Happened In Game 2?
April 17, 2023 - 76ers 96, Nets 84
In a very low-scoring affair, Tyrese Maxey’s 33 points and Joel Embiid’s all-around game of 20 points, 19 rebounds and 7 assist proved to be the difference in Philadelphia taking a 2-0 series lead. What has gone unnoticed so far is the contributions of Tobias Harris, as he followed up a 21-point, 4-rebound performance in Game 1 with 20 points and 12 rebounds against the Nets in Game 2. For Brooklyn, Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges showed up, but the rest of the team did not and Brooklyn’s offense was dormant all night long. Despite having 19 turnovers, the Sixers still looked like they were on cruise control in this one.
Latest Injury News:
76ers Injuries: Jalen McDaniels (illness) - Questionable
Nets Injuries: Ben Simmons (back) - Out
Projected Starters:
PROJECTED SIXERS STARTERS:
- G James Harden, 6-5 guard: 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists (2022-23 season stats)
- G Tyrese Maxey, 6-2 guard: 20.3 points, 3.5 assists
- F Tobias Harris, 6-8 forward, 6-7 forward: 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds
- F P.J. Tucker, 6-5 forward: 3.5 points, 3.9 rebounds
- C Joel Embiid, 7-0 center: 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists
PROJECTED NETS STARTERS:
- G Spencer Dinwiddie, 6-5 guard: 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists
- G Mikal Bridges, 6-6 guard: 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds
- F Cameron Johnson, 6-8 forward: 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds
- F Dorian Finney-Smith, 6-7 forward: 7.2 points, 4.9 rebounds
- C Nic Claxton, 6-11 center: 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds
Betting Odds:
- The 76ers are currently 4.5-point favorites over the Nets as of Thursday morning, according to SI Sportsbook.
- The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 209.5 total points.
What to watch for:
- The Philadelphia 76ers have made the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, but they have not advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2001.
- The Brooklyn Nets have made the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, but they have advanced past the first-round just once in this span.
- Philadelphia is 46-10 this season when they score at least 110 points. Brooklyn is 36-15 this season when they score at least 110 points, including the playoffs.
- The 76ers and Nets have played a total of 14 playoff games and three playoff series all-time. Philadelphia is 10-4 against Brooklyn in the postseason and they are 2-1 against the Nets in playoff series.
Be sure to catch up on the newest episode of The Fast Break Podcast hosted by Fastbreak's own Brett Siegel!
Streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, The Fast Break Podcast takes you inside the league with the latest news, intel, rumors and interviews from those close to the action for all 30 teams. Be on the lookout for a new episodes every Friday.
