Brooklyn Nets (25-12) vs. Chicago Bulls (16-21)
January 4, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Bulls +5.5; Over/Under: +233.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Brooklyn Nets pay a visit to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Wednesday night.
The Brooklyn Nets have been on fire as they’ve won 16 of their last 17 games overall and they will be looking to build on their 12-game win streak after blowing past the Spurs in a 139-103 win on Monday. Kyrie Irving led the team with 27 points on 11 of 14 shooting, Kevin Durant added 25 points with 11 assists on 10 of 14 shooting while Seth Curry chipped in with 16 points. As a team, the Nets shot a sizzling 62 percent from the field and 11 of 20 from the 3-point line as they hit the ground running and were always in control after dominating the first half by 74-47.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been in decent form as they’ve won five of their last eight games, but they will be looking to snap a two-game skid here after getting scorched by the Cavaliers in a 145-134 overtime road loss on Monday. DeMar DeRozan led the team with 44 points on 16 of 32 shooting, Zach LaVine added 26 points with six assists while Nikola Vucevic chipped in with 20 points, 13 rebounds and two assists. As a team, the Bulls shot 49 percent from the field and 10 of 33 from the 3-point line as they got off to a quick start and looked to be in full control after they built a 21-point lead, but they couldn’t hold off the Cavaliers in the second half and eventually came up short in overtime where they managed just four points to allow the Cavaliers off the hook.
Looking at the betting trends, the Nets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games, 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a losing record and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. The Bulls are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a loss of more than 10 points, 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record and 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
Head to head, the under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings overall and the Nets are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in Chicago.
The Nets have been the hottest team in the league for a while now and they should be at full strength for this one as Markieff Morris and Royce O’Neale are both listed as probable to return. Meanwhile, the Bulls have kept their heads above water with five wins in their past eight games, but they will be kicking themselves after getting blown out in a tough overtime loss to the Cavaliers in their last outing. The Nets are a solid 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in Chicago, they’ve been the benchmark of the league and I think they should be too good in this spot.
