The Chicago Bulls (39-23) travel to take Atlanta Hawks (29-32) on Thursday night matchup. Both Atlanta and Chicago are coming off of road losses and are looking to jump back into the win column.
The Hawks last played on Tuesday when they were defeated by the Celtics in Boston. Meanwhile, the Bulls dropped the battle for first place in the Eastern Conference against the Heat in Miami.
While the Hawks have dealt with their struggles this season, they are still a talented team when playing at home and could provide a troubling obstacle for Chicago in this game.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. EST at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA.
Bulls at Hawks Stats
Matchup Information
Looking at the Chicago Bulls stats
Although the Bulls are still one of the best teams in basketball, they have now dropped two consecutive games following their previous six-game winning streak. However, both of those games came against elite team teams in Miami and the Memphis Grizzlies.
But Chicago has labored against good teams this season, and they will need to find a way to beat talented opponents moving forward.
They will likely see more success in that department once players such as Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso return from injury. But they need to find a short-term answer to the problem as they have road dates with talented teams in the near future, with Milwaukee and Philadelphia looming on the horizon.
Chicago’s offense has gone cold over their past two games as they scored a modest 110 points against Memphis and then a lackluster 99 points in Miami. The Bulls shot just over 24 percent from beyond the arc against the Heat, which was a major reason for their disappointing final point total.
They will look to rebound in this Thursday night affair. One area where they could find an advantage is on the defensive end.
Atlanta is a perimeter shooting team, so if Chicago can successfully close out on shooters and force the Hawks to pass the ball into the key, the Bulls could remove the Hawk’s main point of attack.
Looking at the Atlanta Hawks stats
Atlanta has an underwhelming overall record, but they have actually played fairly well over the past week or so. They are 3-2 over their past five games, and their offense has been heating up. The Hawks have scored at least 112 points in four of those games, and they scored at least 120 points in three of those matchups.
One of their main weapons on offense stems from their three-point shooting ability. Atlanta is the second-ranked team in three-point percentage with a mark of over 37 percent. When they are consistently hitting the three-ball, this is a difficult offense to slow down.
The Hawks will look to utilize their three-point shooting ability and upset the odds at home against Chicago.
They will also need to limit the star-studded duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Both players have formed one of the most lethal duos in the NBA, and they are capable of leading Chicago to a win on any given night.
If Atlanta can contain both of them, they will find themselves with a legitimate chance of winning this game.
Betting Trends for Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks
- Chicago is 36-25-1 ATS this season.
- They are 14-14-1 ATS on the road.
- Atlanta is 27-34 ATS this year.
- They are 17-14 ATS at their home arena.
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Prediction
The majority of top sportsbooks have Chicago listed as a narrow road favorite. This makes betting on the spread difficult because I can see this game coming down to the wire.
However, I expect Chicago to win at the end, which means they will likely cover the spread. The spread has been listed as anywhere from 1.5-3.5 points, so as long as the Bulls can extend the lead late in the game, covering the spread should not be an issue.
Go ahead and roll with the Chicago Bulls!
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