Obviously, without Butler and Arenas, Washington is a different team. Their offensive explosiveness will be tempered at least somewhat, and they may even try a defensive approach to compensate, which their coach butted heads with Arenas about earlier in the year.
On the other side, New Jersey is an older team, and they tend to play lower-scoring games on the second of back-to-backs.
The total is over 200 because of Washington's reputation and New Jersey's tendency to be high-scoring at times, but the circumstances for this game are much different than those that created the kinds of results the line is based on.
Unless Washington decides not to compete at all in this game and plays zero defense, this game will have a good shot at staying under.
On the other side, New Jersey is an older team, and they tend to play lower-scoring games on the second of back-to-backs.
The total is over 200 because of Washington's reputation and New Jersey's tendency to be high-scoring at times, but the circumstances for this game are much different than those that created the kinds of results the line is based on.
Unless Washington decides not to compete at all in this game and plays zero defense, this game will have a good shot at staying under.