We are back with another NBA Betting preview and prediction, this time for the Spurs at Bulls match.
San Antonio Spurs (20-16) travel to Chicago for a matchup against the Bulls (17-20). This is a meeting between two teams in different conferences that are hovering on the playoff bubble. We are now through the halfway point of the season, meaning each game gets more meaningful as we go.
The Bulls come into this one after a big win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio comes into the game short-handed without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan who is listed out due to personal reasons. The Spurs are the seventh seed in the Western Conference and are currently clinging to a playoff spot; the absence of DeRozan does not help.
Zach LaVine
The best player in this one is Bulls guard Zach LaVine, and I expect the young guard to be the difference between these two teams. LaVine is coming off his first All-Star appearance and has taken the next step as a superstar in the league. Last night against the Thunder, LaVine dominated, scoring 40 points in just 31 minutes on the court. LaVine enters Wednesday averaging a career-high of 28.1 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, and 5.2 rebounds per game.
LaVine, 26, is having a career year and is giving the Bulls a great player to build around.
Right now, the Bulls are the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, and LaVine is a major reason for this. Chicago should take advantage of the season that they are having and should look into making a trade to improve their team and gain an opportunity to make the playoffs. The Bulls may not be a title contender but are close to being a solid playoff team.
Spurs Are Deep
The Spurs enter this game short-handed, missing their best offensive player, but let’s not forget who we are talking about. No matter who is on the court, as long as Gregg Popovich is the coach, the team is going to play hard and will be efficient. The Spurs don’t have a clear superstar on their team, but they are filled with players that all contribute solid stat lines.
Keep an eye out on the matchup between Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV going against LaVine; this will be a tough matchup for the younger Walker IV.
Injuries
Spurs
SG DeMar DeRozan – Out (personal reasons)
PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge – Out (parting ways with the team)
Bulls
SG Garrett Temple – did not play in their last game
PG Devon Dotson (knee) – did not play in their last game
Last Five Games
Spurs (2-3)
Bulls (2-3)
Of late, neither team has been very good, and both teams are coming off huge losses to the Philadelphia 76ers. Right now, I feel that the major difference between these two teams in the absence of DeMar DeRozan, and I expect that to show.
Early Odds
Spurs +1 (-110) Moneyline (-102)
Bulls -1 (-110) Moneyline (-116)
Prediction: Bulls -1.0
The Bulls are coming off their second straight win and have been doing it in dominant form. Yes, the Bulls might not be beating up the top teams in the league, but with the Spurs coming to town without DeMar DeRozan, I expect the Bulls to hold their own and win this one rather easily.
With the duo of Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls should be able to dominate on both ends, and coach Popovich will not have the answer. Bulls minus one is an early line, and I feel that closer to game time, the line will no longer be so close and should lean heavier on the Bulls.
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