Golden State Warriors vs Brooklyn Nets Prediction: Durant-less Nets take on erring Warriors

NBA is on and this is the festival of basketball that can’t be missed. There are special players gracing the hardwood on a nightly basis and there is no shortage of action as each day we witness some history being made. There are squads that have built such great recent history that a failure is considered surprising. One of those squads, the Golden State Warriors are going to take on the Brooklyn Nets.

The Warriors come into this after defeating the Cavaliers 120:114 on the back of a superb 32 points performance by Guard Jordan Poole. This was an unlikely win considering that they were playing without Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green. The Warriors completed a successful road trip, winning three of their five games, something which has been a rare phenomenon this season.

In an extended window, the team has lost five of their last eights after a five-game winning streak and their propensity to lose winnable games has led them to 23 wins and 23 losses. This is a disappointing return after the team won the championship last season. Their defense is nowhere near it was last season and even struggling teams have had their fun against them. A weak bench and the lack of focus have haunted the Warriors all season long.

The Nets enter the affair after bagging an unlikely 117:106 win versus the Jazz as maestro Kyrie Irving had a memorable 48 points outburst. The team had lost four in a row, mostly because they were missing their leading scorer and Ace Kevin Durant, which led to an offensive collapse. The superb defense of the Nets has kept them afloat but it is clear that they need heroic performances from Irving to rescue an abysmal scoring depth.

Overall, their ship is still sailing strongly with 28 wins and 17 losses, thanks to a 12-game winning streak from early December to early January. Nic Claxton’s will to play defense outside and inside has been a prime reason and having the big and athletic bodies of Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant, and Royce O’Neale has helped too. However, the East looks even deeper than the West this season so the Nets will be in for a fierce finish in the Playoffs.

• Nets: OUT: Kevin Durant. QUESTIONABLE: TJ Warren;
• Warriors: OUT: James Wiseman, Andre Iguodala. QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Lamb.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Kyrie Irving(31-37 Points), Stephen Curry(30-36 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Nic Claxton(10-13 Rebounds), Draymond Green(8-11 Rebounds;
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Draymond Green(6-9 Assists), Kyrie Irving(6-9 Assists).

The Warriors have been highly inconsistent and although their home record is superb, lately, they have slipped here too. The Nets play tough defense and will test the long-range shooting of the Warriors, something which the Warriors need to thrive. However, I see the Guard trio of Curry, Thompson, and Poole figuring out their offense and overcoming the Kyrie-led Nets. I predict a score of 124:113 in the Warriors’ favor.