Nets vs Spurs Odds, Spread & Picks (Jan. 17)

• Brooklyn is laying 6 points on the road in the Nets vs Spurs odds on Tuesday
• The Nets are 0-2 without Kevin Durant since his knee injury
• See below for the latest Nets vs Spurs odds, plus injury news and a betting prediction

Life without Kevin Durant is not off to a good start for the Nets (27-15, 14-8 away). Brooklyn has dropped its first two games without its superstar while he nurses a knee injury, after winning 14 of the previous 15 games with him in the lineup.

Online sportsbooks are expecting the Nets’ fortunes to change on Tuesday in San Antonio, when they take on the lowly Spurs (13-31, 8-16 home). Brooklyn opened up as the sizeable road chalk in the NBA odds, as they play their first of five games away from home.

Nets vs Spurs Odds

Odds as of January 16 at Barstool. Claim the Barstool Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Nets vs Spurs game.

The Nets are currently 6-point favorites, in a contest with a total of 235. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 pm ET at the AT&T Center, a building where San Antonio has won just eight times all season.

Nets vs Spurs Betting Analysis

Brooklyn remains the second leading contender in the NBA Championship odds, but they’ve looked nothing like a threat to win it all without Durant. The Nets have averaged just 100 points per outing in his absence, dropping back-to-back games by double-digits.

Their first poor showing was expected, given they were facing the mighty Celtics. The second underwhelming performance however, was surprising as it came against a weaker opponent.

Brooklyn fell 112-102 to OKC in their own building. The Nets shot just 42.9% from the floor, and 29% from three. Seth Curry led the way with 23 points, but second-leading scorer Kyrie Irving was a non-factor. Irving managed only 15 points in 38 minutes, missing 13 of his 20 field goal attempts.

"This isn't last year, at all. The comparisons gotta stop. I'll leave it up to you guys to do that, but for us, we don't have any comparisons to last year."

Kyrie Irving talks about the Nets navigating this recent stretch without Kevin Durant: pic.twitter.com/7ozg6WnS2N

— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 16, 2023

Irving has put up only 19.5 points per game without KD, and the Nets simply can’t stack W’s without their best player, if their second best option doesn’t step up.

The only thing keeping Brooklyn from more lopsided defeats without Durant is its defense. The Nets held the Celtics and Thunder, two of the league’s eight highest scoring teams, to an average of only 110.5 points. Brooklyn’s defense is much improved under Jacques Vaughan this season, ranking ninth in the league in defensive rating.

The matchup versus San Antonio is certainly favorable, as this is one of the four worst offensive teams in the league. The Spurs check in at number 27 in offensive rating, and 20th in points per game. They’ve suffered back-to-back double-digit losses, just like the Nets, and enter play riding a four-game losing streak.

"The good part is that they never give in. They just keep on pushing and keep on trying."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks about his team's effort after their loss to the Kings.@spurs | #PorVida pic.twitter.com/nX0qgCYXbD

— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) January 16, 2023

San Antonio came roaring out of the gates this season, winning five of their first seven games. Since then, it’s been all downhill. The Spurs are 8-28 in their past 36 games, with 18 double-digit defeats.

On the injury front, sharpshooter Doug McDermott is questionable. He sat out San Antonio’s latest loss on Sunday with back tightness, and is the lone player with an injury designation ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Nets vs Spurs Predictions

These two teams met earlier this season, with Brooklyn rolling to a 139-103 victory. Of course Kevin Durant was a major factor in that game, racking up 25 points and 11 assists. Without KD, the Nets shouldn’t be favored by six points over anyone, but it’s impossible to trust the Spurs at the moment given their form.

NBA Defensive Rating Ranks – Last 13 Games

Which brings us to the under. 235 is an incredibly high total, especially given how well Brooklyn is playing in its own end. The Nets have allowed more than 113 points only twice in their past 11 outings, and aren’t likely to do so again versus this weak Spurs team.

Seven of Brooklyn’s last eight games have fallen under the total. Given how much their offensive ceiling is reduced without Durant, this one should as well.

Pick: Under 235 (-110)