Game: San Antonio Spurs @ Chicago Bulls
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Spurs +5.5, Bulls -5.5
Total: 234.5
With three wins in its last four games and a win over the Bulls already this season, San Antonio looks to ruin Chicago’s current three-game winning streak. The Spurs beat the Bulls 131-122 about two weeks ago and would like nothing more than to close out the season series with Chicago with another victory. Dejounte Murray is playing at an All-Star level averaging 20 points and 9.3 assists per game for San Antonio. The big news for Chicago is that Zach LaVine will be out tonight.
LaVine is the Bulls’ second-leading scorer (24.6 ppg) and a key reason why Chicago is just one game out of first place in the Eastern Conference. If there was ever a time to be without LaVine, this may be it. Leading scorer DeMar DeRozan is on a tear that brings back memories of another famous Bulls Hall of Famer. Over his last five games, DeRozan is shooting almost 60 percent from the floor and averaging 38.4 points a game. He would love nothing more than to put it to his former team. When the two teams played two weeks ago, DeRozan had 32 points.
Chicago is in the midst of a seven-game homestand. They are 3-0 thus far and they typically play well at home. They are 21-8 thus far and 19-10 ATS at the United Center. The Bulls are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games, but against San Antonio, they are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings. The Spurs aren’t that great on the road with an 11-17 straight-up record, but they are 16-12 ATS when away from home.
The Spurs have dominated the series with Chicago recently. San Antonio is 7-2 in its last nine games against the Bulls. As mentioned, they have covered in four straight including the first meeting this season. The Spurs were a two-point home favorite and won by nine.
Tonight’s total at 234.5 is no surprise. Both Chicago and San Antonio are top-10 scoring teams. The Bulls rank seventh (112.3 ppg) and the Spurs are eighth (111.8 ppg) in points per game. The Spurs play at the eighth-fastest pace in the league, averaging 101.3 possessions per game. In their last two games, both wins, the Spurs scored 124 and 136 points. They have gone over 130 points in four of their past ten games.
The Bulls have scored 120 points or more in eight of their last ten games. Not surprisingly, the total has gone Over in eight of those ten games for Chicago. The Over is also 5-1 in the Bulls’ last six home games. The Bulls are one of the top Over teams in the NBA. For the season, the O/U record in Bulls games is 31-24-2.
Chicago is fourth in offensive efficiency rating and is averaging 120.3 per game in their last three games. The Spurs are averaging 117.3 per game in their last three.