NBA Betting Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets

Added on Mar 04, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

After a short card of action we’ve got a full slate of NBA games for Friday night including a fairly pedestrian matchup in a very unusual setting. The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets will play the first NBA regular season game ever held in Europe when they face off this afternoon at the O2 Arena in London, England. Note the early start time.

Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets (at London, England)
March 4, 2011, 12:05 PM Pacific

Deron Williams will play in this game despite a sprained wrist and bruised left hand. The Raptors and Nets won’t get a lot of attention in the United States, but in England it’s a big deal for fans in that country and the NBA. Williams’ hand has given him trouble for a good part of the season–it kept him out of 4 games while he was still playing in Utah and it’s led to speculation that at some points the Nets may shut him down for the year since it’s unlikely they’ll make the playoffs:

“I’ve seen that happen before, but right now for us we’d like to get through this London trip. We’d like to get through our first couple games home when we return and we’ll reevaluate it at that point. We haven’t talked about a shutdown date. Billy [King], [trainer] Tim [Walsh], Deron and I have all been on the same page and haven’t discussed that option yet.”

For now, it’s not going to hamper the excitement over a NBA game in England which culminates the first ever ‘Basketball Week’ in the country:

“Basketball Week will bring together the key entities in the UK basketball community – England Basketball, the British Basketball League, and British Basketball – and provide fans of all ages with an exciting and interactive basketball experience.”

Neither team in great form at the moment, but we look for Williams to raise his game on the International stage in what could be the biggest game he plays for the rest of the season. Raptors one the previous meeting in Toronto this season, so we’ll look for the Nets to get one back in this afternoon’s historic game.

Bet New Jersey Nets -2′ over Toronto Raptors