The Chicago Bulls play host to the Utah Jazz at the United Center on Monday night.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have struggled to get going this season and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting routed by the Timberwolves in a 123-95 road loss on Saturday. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 22 points, John Collins and Talen Horton-Tucker each scored 14 points while Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 10 points. As a team, the Jazz shot just 38 percent from the field and 12 of 43 from the 3-point line which was enough to hang in the contest in the first half, but they got outscored by 68-45 in the second half to lose by a big margin once again. 

Utah Jazz Team Facts

• The Jazz have won each of their last seven games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• The Jazz have covered the spread in each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• Each of the Jazz’s last seven night games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.

Chicago Bulls

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have lost four of their last five games overall and they will be hoping to snap a three-game skid after getting thrashed by the Nuggets in a 123-101 road loss on Saturday. Nikola Vucevic led the team with 19 points, DeMar DeRozan added 17 points with six assists while Jevon Carter chipped in with 16 points off the bench. As a team, the Bulls shot 45 percent from the field and seven of 26 from the 3-point line as they got off to a strong start and took the lead into halftime, but it was all one-way traffic in favor of the Nuggets from that point onwards as the Bulls allowed 72 points in the second half to get blown out. 

Chicago Bulls Team Facts

• The Bulls have lost each of their last five games as home favorites following a road loss.
• The Bulls have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games as home favorites following a road loss.
• Each of the Bulls’ last six games as favorites against the Jazz have gone UNDER the total points line.

Peter’s Pick

The Jazz are coming into this meeting with a full roster, while the Bulls should have Patrick Williams and Alex Caruso back on the court. The Jazz have been one of the coldest teams in the league so far and their confidence took another gut shot after losing by 28 points to the Timberwolves on Saturday. You could say the same thing about the struggling Bulls who just got routed by the Nuggets in their last outing. You couldn’t back either team with much confidence these days, but the Bulls are bound to turn around their slow start sooner rather than later and I think that starts with a tough win and cover at home in this one.