Sixers vs Nets March 10 Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers-Brooklyn Nets rivalry got dialed up several notches after the blockbuster trade deadline deal that sent superstar guard James Harden to Philadelphia on Feb. 10.
Brooklyn, which had been the betting favorite to win the NBA championship for much of the season, was mired in a nine-game losing streak when it made the trade and shook up its roster while trying to avoid its season from falling into the abyss.
The Nets received a package of picks and players for Harden, headlined by disgruntled guard Ben Simmons, who had not played for the 76ers this season.
On March 10, Simmons will make his return to Philadelphia and Harden will face off against his former Nets teammates. Here’s a look at what to expect for that game.
When Is the Nets vs Sixers Game?
All eyes will be on South Philly, and specifically Wells Fargo Center on March 10, when the Nets trek south for their fourth and final regular-season meeting of 2021-22.
James Harden for Ben Simmons Trade Details
The Sixers — and specifically Daryl Morey — finally got their man when they acquired Harden, along with Paul Millsap, from Brooklyn for Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks (2022 and 2027).
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Impact of the James Harden for Ben Simmons Trade
Where do we begin?
The will-they, won’t-they saga involving the Nets and Harden is over, and from Brooklyn’s perspective, the drama is in the rear-view (though with guard Kyrie Irving’s continued spot on the roster, the theatrics are never completely out of the question).
The Nets also got younger, longer, deeper, and better defensively thanks to Simmons, a two-time All-Defensive Team member.
The Nets picked up valuable futures in the two first-round picks. Brooklyn does not have its first-round pick this season — it was dealt in the package that Brooklyn initially sent out to acquire Harden just 13 months ago. The Sixers’ first-round pick might be No. 30 this year, and 2027 is a long way off, but Brooklyn will avoid going multiple consecutive seasons without a draft selection, which could enable it to reload on the fly.
Curry may be something of a journeyman, but he found a home in Philadelphia and emerged from the shadows as Steph Curry’s brother. The younger Curry was averaging a career-high 15 points per game at the time of the trade and is quietly the fifth-most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history (43.7 percent), trumping his brother, who ranks 10th all-time at 42.8 percent.
Philadelphia also must feel like it won. The 76ers have ridden their own roller coaster of drama, which should calm now that they settled the Simmons saga.
Simmons had been holding out due to comments made by center Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers after Philadelphia’s premature second-round exit to the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, which cast a shadow over the team’s season. The 76ers, who people forget were the No. 1 seed in the East a year ago, sat in the No. 5 spot at the time of the trade.
Plus, Philadelphia got Harden, and he is highly-motivated to bring a championship to the city. He should energize the 76ers, who at times have looked sluggish and disinterested, and should boost Philadelphia’s offense — it ranked just 20th in the NBA in points per game at the time of the trade.
Harden — and Millsap, to an extent — should also help out Philadelphia’s awful rebounding. The Sixers rank dead-last in the league in rebounds per game (42.1), but Harden is averaging eight boards this season and Millsap has averaged nearly as much throughout his 16-year career.
James Harden will visit his old Nets team on March 10 as a member of the 76ers. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Sixers and Nets Trade Impact on Futures Betting
The Nets have been the odds-on favorite all season to win the NBA championship, largely due to Harden and first-half MVP candidate Kevin Durant. Their odds have since dipped thanks to a 6-17 stretch, including a 10-game losing streak that put their postseason status in jeopardy.
Even through all that, Brooklyn was still the co-favorite to win the title come June, sharing the top spot with the dominant Phoenix Suns at (+450) the day after the trade deadline.
The Sixers seem to be the benefactors of Brooklyn’s slide. Philadelphia sat at (+1400) on Feb. 7, yet jumped to (+700) once the Harden rumors gained steam. The Sixers are tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the second-shortest odds of any Eastern Conference team.
Sixers and Nets Trade Impact on Prop Betting
Harden was averaging 16 shots per game for Brooklyn, and those attempts will have to be dispersed elsewhere now. Rookie Cam Thomas is likely to take on an enhanced role offensively — he’s proven capable, averaging 23.5 points in nearly 32 minutes per night over four games as the trade saga went on.
Simmons prefers not to contribute offensively which should only contribute to Thomas’ output. Curry’s 3-point props will also be interesting to consider since he was brought in undoubtedly to correct the Nets’ woes from beyond the arc.
Brooklyn’s 3-point shooting percentage has dipped from second in the NBA last season (39.2 percent) to just 15th (35.2) this year. The Nets have missed Joe Harris, who has appeared in just 14 games due to an ankle injury. Brooklyn shot just 33.5 percent from deep from the time he went down to the time of the trade.
With Simmons, the Nets only stand to improve on defense. At 111.1 points allowed per game — 12th-worst in the NBA — it can’t get much worse. This will make totals and even potentially Under bets plausible.
When Harden is motivated, he’s a triple-double machine — he ranks second on the Nets’ list for triple-doubles in franchise history (21) despite playing just 80 games, including 10 this season. Those odds are typically long since triple-doubles don’t happen most nights, so keep an eye out for value there.
Harden’s 3-point shooting prop is one to consider most nights, since his 33.2 percentage this season — which would be a full-season career-low — can only go up. Plus, Philadelphia will need him now that Curry is out.
As for Embiid, the MVP favorite will now get some reinforcements, which should boost his freshness. That’ll make his points-assists-rebounds prop a must-consider on a nightly basis.
Will Ben Simmons Play Against the Sixers on March 10?
That’s the $624 question — the average price of a ticket to the game on the SeatGeek app.
Simmons is officially dealing with a back injury and will likely need until after the All-Star break to get into playing shape for Brooklyn. But with a minefield of post-break games against Eastern Conference contenders, and Brooklyn fading fast in the standings, you would think he’d have to suit up in such an important game.
However, Philadelphia isn’t exactly a friendly environment, especially given the perception that Simmons quit on the team. He’s likely to receive a vitriolic reception from the home crowd.
Should Simmons play through that and help lead the Nets to victory, it could stand to galvanize Brooklyn for its potential run toward the playoffs.
When Will James Harden Play His First Game for the Sixers?
Philadelphia went all-in to win a championship this season with the Harden trade, but he has also been nursing injuries himself. He had missed six of Brooklyn’s previous eight games leading up to the trade due to a hand injury and a hamstring ailment.
Those injuries are expected to keep him out of the lineup until at least Tuesday when Philadelphia hosts the Boston Celtics, but he should be ready to go then. The 76ers will then play the Bucks on Thursday before Harden departs to take part in the All-Star Game.
Sixers vs Nets Projected Lineups
The Nets are 2-1 against the Sixers this season, but that record is essentially meaningless now.
Irving, who missed each of the previous three matchups while sitting out due to an array of controversies centered around his decision not to take the COVID-19 vaccine, expects to be in the lineup.
Assuming Durant and forward/center Nic Claxton are healthy, the Nets starting lineup on March 10 should look something like this:
Nets Projected Lineup
- Guard: Ben Simmons
- Guard: Kyrie Irving
- Guard: Patty Mills
- Forward: Kevin Durant
- Forward: Nic Claxton
The Nets have rolled out more than 30 starting lineups throughout the season, by far the most in the NBA, so this is an educated guess. It’s possible Blake Griffin starts in Claxton’s place. Curry, Drummond, Griffin, Thomas, Kessler Edwards, James Johnson and Bruce Brown are all likely to be available off the bench.
Harden, who averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and nine assists per game against the Sixers this season, expects to be playing when they host the Nets on March 10. Here’s a look at Philadelphia’s likely starting lineup:
76ers Projected Lineup
- Guard: James Harden
- Guard: Tyrese Maxey
- Forward: Tobias Harris
- Forward: Matisse Thybulle
- Center: Joel Embiid
The Sixers hung onto Maxey and Thybulle, each of whom was rumored to be heavily coveted by the Nets in the Harden trade. Philly should have Millsap, Danny Green, Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang, and Isaiah Joe available as subs.
Betting Picks
Brooklyn’s odds for an NBA championship have doubled since the preseason, jumping from (+230) to (+450) at the time of the trade. When healthy, the Nets are still arguably the best team in the league.
If they can stay out of the play-in tournament — and there’s more than enough basketball for them to do so in the wide-open East — they still could be a tough out.
The 76ers, meanwhile, should roll through the rest of the regular season. Make their games a fixture in your multi-leg, any-night parlays, and be sure to take their moneyline odds when they dip below (-200) barring injuries.
Taking advantage of Embiid as the MVP should also be a worthwhile wager.