It could well be the hope of the powers-that-be in the NBA and the TV networks that the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers could wind up meeting in the NBA Finals. Let’s face it – both teams have superstars that can be featured and are located in the two biggest media markets.

Not all the performers will be on the “set” on Thursday night, when these squads clash on TNT. But maybe that makes it a more interesting game to handicap.

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And it’s an opportunity to cash in at HRWager.

Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers Picks

Nets vs. Lakers Betting Report

Tip-off: 10:05 PM ET (TNT)

NBA Betting Odds: Lakers -2.5

At the moment, these teams are in second place in their respective conferences – Brooklyn is a game and a half behind Philadelphia in the East, while the Lakers are down two games to the Utah Jazz in the West. So the expectation on the part of many is that these clubs may have a home court advantage all the way through their half of the playoff bracket.

The Nets come into this game on a high note, having come back from a 21-point halftime deficit to beat Phoenix, closing things out on a 12-0 run. Of course, they are not completely healthy; Kevin Durant is sitting out his third straight game because of a left hamstring injury. Kyrie Irving’s back got a little too stiff and he sat out against the Suns, but after a day off he should be ready to go.

The Lakers are going to be without Anthony Davis for a couple of weeks because of a calf injury. Without him, the defending champions are vulnerable on the inside. Will LeBron James be able to compensate for that in a big way?

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Because of the absences, this can not really be billed as an “NBA Finals preview.” But the matchup may be more intriguing for this particular night.

James Harden was not happy at all in Houston any more, and he wanted out of a situation that he felt was deteriorating. So you can judge him if you must, but out of this “Big Three” of the Nets, he is the guy who has the ability to make the other players better. He is averaging 11.8 assists, leading the league, and that is something they aren’t going to get from Irving. In fact, Harden’s presence allows Irving to be what he really is – a shooting guard.

What’s interesting to see is that Brooklyn’s role players are starting to fill things out a little. There was naturally a lot of concern, with the superstars and the big salaries, that there was nothing left over to populate the bench. And considering that a guy like Spencer Dinwiddie is out for the season, that’s a problem that they will continue working on (Hmmm, maybe Blake Griffin?).

Reserves like Jeff Green and Tyler Johnson have stepped up; they combined for 35 points against Phoenix, as both Irving and Durant were out. Joe Harris had 22 in that game; the three-point artist from the U.of Virginia could probably be a bigger scorer on a team that would afford him more shots. Recently they signed free agent forward Andre Roberson, who will eventually provide a defensive stopper off the bench.

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This is a game that matches teams with the #1 Offensive Rating (Brooklyn) and the #1 Defensive Rating (Lakers). The feeling here is that the Lakers lose quite a bit in the way of their defensive prowess with Davis, while Harden can make things work in a number of ways with the ball in his hands, even if Durant is not out there.

That is what puts us on the side of the points.

The Play: BROOKLYN +2.5