Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for the San Antonio Spurs vs. Orlando Magic NBA matchup.
Taking place across the nine-game slate of NBA action tonight, the Chicago Bulls will host the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls got off to a hot start to the season, winning their first five games, but they have come back to earth a bit. They have dropped to 9-11 on the season, which slots them at 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, things have never quite gotten on track in Brooklyn, with the Nets holding a 4-16 record on the season.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Bulls enter as 7.5-point favorites and hold -340 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Nets hold +270 odds of winning outright with the game total set at 232.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Wednesday night matchup.
Nets at Bulls Preview
The Brooklyn Nets are looking to build off a victory over the Hornets in the previous game, but they are 4-16 overall. They used five first-round picks in the previous draft to look to jumpstart their rebuild, but they still have a ways to go. Brooklyn is 9-10-1 against the spread and the under has cashed in 12 of its 20 games.
Cam Thomas remains sidelined with his hamstring injury, while Terance Mann and Haywood Highsmith will each also miss tonight. Michael Porter Jr. leads the team in scoring at 24.9 points per game, along with 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Nic Claxton adds 13.6 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Noah Clowney is the only other player to average in double-figures at 12.4 points per game.
As a team, the Nets are producing 108.8 points per game, which ranks last in the NBA. They rank 29th in field-goal percentage, 25th in three-point percentage, 26th in offensive rating and dead last in rebounds per game. Defensively, opponents are producing 118.5 points per game, which ranks 21st in the NBA. They are allowing the worst field-goal percentage to opponents, rank 28th in opponent three-point percentage and 28th in defensive rating.
The Chicago Bulls have slipped to 9-11, including dropping four straight entering this matchup and 10 of their past 13. They are 10-10 against the spread and the over has cashed in 11 of their 20 games.
The Bulls have a more crowded injury report for this matchup. Coby White, Kevin Huerter and Noa Essengue have each been ruled out for the matchup already. Zach Collins, Jalen Smith and Dalen Terry are listed as questionable, Isaac Okoro is doubtful, and Tre Jones, Patrick Williams, Lachlan Olbrich and Julian Phillips are each probable.
Josh Giddey headlines the production and pushes the pace of the Bulls offense. The 23-year-old is averaging 20.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Nikola Vucevic adds 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds while Ayo Dosunmu leads the team with a 49.3% three-point percentage along with his 15.8 points. Matas Buzelis adds 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds of his own.
As a team, the Bulls rank seventh in the league in scoring at 120.0 points per contest. They play at the second-quickest pace, rank 13th in field-goal percentage, seventh in three-point percentage and 20th in offensive rating. Defensively, opponents are putting up 123.2 points per game, which ranks 27th. They rank 16th in opponent field-goal percentage, 11th in opponent three-point percentage, 26th in rebounds allowed and 22nd in defensive rating.
Nets at Bulls Prediction, Best Bet
The Chicago Bulls desperately need to get back on track and this is the type of matchup they should be thrilled by. But the 7.5-point spread is a bit more significant than I feel comfortable with given the recent rut they have been in. Rather than back a side in either direction, I am taking the over of 232.5 total points.
Chicago wants to play at a high pace and get out in transition. This will especially be the case on the road. It is dependent on attempting to outscore opponents and has not had much defensive success all season. The Bulls rank 27th in opponent scoring by allowing 123.2 points per game. They gave up 125 points to the Magic in the previous game and have allowed 143 points twice over their past six games.
Brooklyn has its own struggles offensively, but it has the young legs to be able to run with this Bulls team. It has been an ugly overall season, but the Nets have won three of their past eight. Expect this game to be played at the Bulls’ desired pace and for there to be plenty of trips up and down the floor. Both these teams rank in the bottom nine in points allowed on the season and each should face little resistance scoring the basketball.
Don’t bank on much defense being played in this battle. The 232.5-point game total is manageable by NBA standards and look for both these teams to put some points on the board. Chicago has not played in a game with a game total below 240.5 since Nov. 12th. Take advantage of the number being at a lower rate due to the matchup and expect the Bulls to lead the charge in surpassing.