Brooklyn Nets (34-24) vs. Chicago Bulls (26-33)
February 24, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Bulls -1.5; Over/Under: +224.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Brooklyn Nets travel to the United Center to do battle with the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
The Brooklyn Nets have been in decent shape as they’ve split their last 10 games overall and they will be eager to build some momentum after beating the Heat in a 116-105 win last Wednesday. Mikal Bridges led the team with a career-high 45 points on 17 of 24 shooting, Cam Thomas added 19 points while Cam Johnson chipped in with 18 points. As a team, the Nets shot 53 percent from the field and 17 of 39 from the 3-point line as they did their best to hang with the Heat in the first half, before they poured in 64 points in the second half to make it look easy in the end.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been struggling lately as they’ve lost seven of their last 10 games overall and they will be hoping to put a halt to a six-game slide after getting routed by the Bucks in a 112-100 loss last Thursday. Nikola Vucevic led the team with 22 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, Zach LaVine added 18 points while Patrick Williams chipped in with 16 points on six of 10 shooting. As a team, the Bulls shot just 38 percent from the field and 10 of 32 from the 3-point line as they fell behind right away as the Bucks get off to a quick start and they couldn’t take advantage of the Bucks’ Antetokounmpo leaving the game early with a sprained wrist injury.
Looking at the betting trends, the Nets are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games against a team with a winning home record and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The Bulls are 0-5 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record, 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 home games and 0-6 ATS in their last six games overall.
Head to head, the under is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings overall and the under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Chicago.
The Nets are a little shorthanded here as Ben Simmons has been ruled out due to left knee soreness, while the Bulls are still missing Javonte Green and they are keeping an eye on Goran Dragic who is day to day. The Nets come in as the team in better form despite the recent roster changes and they are a solid 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games. The Bulls need a win to get their season back on track, but there’s more optimism surrounding the Nets at the moment and I think they will keep the good times rolling with another win in this spot.
