The Brooklyn Nets have been as hot as a firecracker. And perhaps that's been surprising to some people who thought they might falter a bit as Kevin Durant went out of the lineup with a hamstring injury.

Well, Durant isn't expected back in the lineup until after the All-Star break, as general manager Sean Marks wants to be very careful. But the Nets are going string anyway, as they have thrived under the on-court leadership of James Harden.

On Saturday night they'll take on the Dallas Mavericks, who will be bringing Kristaps Porzingis back into the lineup at the Barclays Center for the 8:30 PM ET tipoff on ABC.

In the pro basketball odds that have been posted at BetOnline, the Nets are favored, but only by a few points:

Brooklyn Nets -3
Dallas Mavericks +3

Over 236 points -110
Under 236 points -110

Porzingis, of course, is the former Knicks star who has such unusual skills for a 7-3 player. He signed a "max" deal with the Mavs last season, but he's been injured often enough that trade rumors have persisted about him. Owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle have done their level best to shut down those rumors, and seriously, what else could they possibly do?

KP, who's averaged 23 points in those games he's played in February, has been suffering from "back stiffness," which has forced him out of the last three games. But indications are that all systems are "go" for this meeting with the Nets, who are looking very much like the best team in the Eastern Conference right now.

Durant is averaging 29 points a game, and the Nets will need him to win a title, but this squad probably relies on James Harden more than anyone else. Seriously disgruntled in Houston, Harden was a real problem for the Rockets, who ultimately rushed to deal him. With the Nets, he has found the right teammates in the right places for good shots. And he is leading the NBA in assists. Harden is tallying just under 25 points a game, and Kyrie Irving is at 27.4 ppg.

Brooklyn is the #1 shooting team in the NBA, hitting 50.2% from the field as a team. They are also 40.7% from three-point range, and Joe Harris is the best in the league at 50.9%. Another thing that can't be overlooked is that the three players who have the ball in their hands the most are outstanding from the free throw line. Harden is 86%, while Durant is 87% and Irving 90%.

The Nets are #1 in the NBA in Offensive Rating, which measures points scored per 100 possessions. That was where Dallas was last season, as they were of course led by Porzingis, but more importantly by Luke Doncic, the guy who is now averaging 28.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and nine assists.

But the problem for the Mavs is that they have been lacking on the defensive end - 26th in Defensive Rating. Keep in mind that the Nets are the highest-scoring team and can play at a very swift pace, which is the Steve Nash-Mike D'Antoni influence.

Back stiffness is a tough thing to deal with, so Porzingis may continue to have trouble. We also think that the oddsmakers have adjusted too far downward on the Nets in dealing with Durant's absence. So we'll lay the points with the Nets and look to win and cover their ninth straight.

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