The Chicago Bulls (14-8) and New York Knicks (11-10) will face off at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, December 2nd. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. EST.
The Knicks are coming off a nail-biting 112-110 loss against Brooklyn, while Chicago defeated Charlotte 133-119 in their last game.
If the season ended today, both the Knicks and Bulls would be in the postseason. However, the Bulls would be the second seed while the Knicks are in a rare five-way tie for the seventh spot.
Bulls at Knicks Betting Analysis
On the New York Knicks side
The Knicks have faced several questions this season. New York feels as if Julius Randle is not getting many calls when it comes to fouling, and the offseason addition of Kemba Walker has not been as successful as planned.
Nonetheless, the season is young, and they have plenty of time to straighten things out.
Kemba Walker is currently out of the rotation in New York. Head coach Tom Thibodeau said that playing three small guards together would be an issue. So it looks like Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickly are in line for a superb amount of playing time while Walker warms the bench for the foreseeable future.
Julius Randle has continued to impress in New York. A year ago, after a great regular season and a difficult postseason, the forward’s future as a star was unclear entering the 2021-2022 campaign. But Randle has emerged as a triple-threat with 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
While the Knicks are hopeful he can ramp up the scoring numbers a bit more, Randle has been a vital part of this Knick’s lineup.
New York ranks in the top half of the league in rebounds and blocked shots per game. They are a gritty team that wins games on the boards and by protecting the rim. However, the Knicks offense has been rather lackluster with just 106 points per game which ranks 19th overall.
On the Chicago Bulls side
The Bulls have seen DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine turn into a dynamic duo on the offensive end. Both players are averaging over 25 points per game. However, Chicago is far more than just a two-man show.
Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, and Alex Caruso have all been crucial to the Bulls’ success in 2021.
As a team, Chicago is almost the exact opposite of New York from a statistical standpoint. They rank in the top half of the league in almost every category other than blocks and rebounds. The Bulls rank top five in the NBA in a field goal, three-point, and free throw percentage.
Their efficient manner of scoring places them 11th overall in total points per game.
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks Prediction
Top sportsbooks have Chicago entering Thursday as 2-point favorites. The Bulls utilize an effective strategy of balance and unselfish play, making them one of the most dangerous offensive units in the NBA.
Chicago is extremely pesky on the defensive end as well. Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso lead the team in steals which ranks ninth in the entire NBA.
Between solid defensive play and potential for high-scoring in every contest, the Bulls are a difficult team to match up against. I am rolling with Chicago in this affair.
Take the Bulls -2.
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