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The Chicago Bulls (31-40) and Denver Nuggets (45-27) meet Monday. Tip-off from Ball Arena is set for 9 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Bulls vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Bulls lead 1-0
The Bulls are coming off a 146-115 upset as 10.5-point underdogs at the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday as the Over (238) hit. G Coby White had 36 points and G Josh Giddey was 2 steals shy of a quadruple-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists and 8 steals. Chicago is in ninth place in the East and has a 28.7% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Power Index.
The Nuggets also picked off an upset road win in their last game, beating the Houston Rockets 116-111 Sunday as 7.5-point road underdogs with the Over (223) cashing. G Jamal Murray scored 39 points and F Michael Porter Jr. had 17 points and 9 rebounds in the absence of C Nikola Jokic (ankle), who has missed 4 straight games. Coach Michael Malone said Sunday that Jokic is unlikely to play in Monday’s game. Denver is in third place in the West, 1 game back of the second-place Rockets and 1 game ahead of the fifth-place Lakers..
The Bulls covered as 9.5-point underdogs in a 129-121 win over the Nuggets in Chicago during their Jan. 27 meeting. The Over (247) cashed for the second time in the last 3 head-to-head meetings with the non-Over being a push. Bulls C Nikola Vucevic had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Jokic recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.
Bulls at Nuggets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:17 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bulls +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Nuggets -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +3.5 (-115) | Nuggets -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 238.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Bulls at Nuggets key injuries
Bulls
- G Lonzo Ball (wrist) out
- G Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) out rest of season
- G Tre Jones (midfoot) out
Nuggets
(Not yet submitted — below was for Sunday’s game)
- C Nikola Jokic (ankle) out
- G Julian Strawther (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Bulls at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 121, Bulls 120
Moneyline
It’s unlikely that the Bulls (+135) will win a third straight game as road underdogs. The Nuggets (-160) should win, but their price is too high considering Jokic is expected to sit.
PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
The Nuggets have gone just 1-2 ATS in their last 3 games without Jokic, including a 12-point loss at the Lakers — who were missing F LeBron James — Wednesday and a 19-point defeat at the Portland Trail Blazers Friday. After Sunday’s stunning win at Houston, expect Denver to come back down to Earth Monday.
The Bulls have continued to exceed expectations, covering 13 of their last 16 games. Chicago is a team that should not be faded right now.
BET BULLS +3.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Over has hit in 5 of Denver’s last 6 games, including 3 straight. The Nuggets have allowed 120 or more points in 2 of their last 3 games and 7 of their last 10 outings.
The Bulls have scored 121 or more points in 3 straight games. While this number is higher than the average total, Chicago is 3-0 to the Over in its last 3 games, all with totals of 235.5 or higher.
BET OVER 238.5 (-110).
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