Pick against the spread, best player prop for Hornets vs. Nets on Thursday

The Brooklyn Nets (33-15) are the new Eastern Conference leaders after jumping ahead of Philly after blowing past the rockets 120-108 yesterday. Now they’ll turn their attention to the fourth-place Charlotte Hornets (24-22) in hopes of extending their winning streak to four, furthering the gap between themselves and the Sixers.

Hornets vs. Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Pick ATS: Nets -3

The Hornets took a huge blow in mid-March when they lost rookie sensation LaMelo Ball to a fractured wrist. He underwent surgery and initially was set to miss the rest of the season, but it sounds like they’ll re-evaluate him in four weeks with a slight possibility of making a return for the playoffs. The Nets recently saw the return of Kyrie Irving after he sat out for three games due to personal reasons, and he wasted no time making an impact. He dropped 27 points against the Timberwolves and followed it up with 31 points against the Rockets, providing a much-needed boost for the Nets while taking some of the pressure off James Harden. Although Harden is listed as questionable with hamstring tightness, and Kevin Durant (hamstring) is still sidelined, if both Harden and Irving can go big like they’re known to do then the Nets should have no trouble covering the spread on this one.

Player Prop: Devonte’ Graham O3.5 three-pointers (+128)

Graham has been vital for Charlotte in Ball’s absence, averaging 18.6 points per game since LaMelo’s injury. In that same stretch, he hasn’t hit less than three three-pointers in a single game, while draining seven in their loss against the Suns, and six in their win against the Rockets last week. Despite the outcome of tonight’s contest, you can count on Graham for at least a few from downtown if not more. Four three-pointers isn’t even remotely out of the question

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