In a matchup of two excellent shooting guards, Zach LaVine and the Bulls will host Victor Oladipo and the Rockets on Monday night. For Oladipo, a two-time All-Star, it will be his Houston debut after being acquired on Saturday in the trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn.
The Rockets were extremely shorthanded during their last two games (one win, one loss) in San Antonio, with only nine and eight active players for each game, respectively. But that should change in Chicago, with Oladipo joining the starting lineup and veterans Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins each probable to return following minor leg injuries.
John Wall (sore left knee) and Danuel House Jr. (self-isolation) remain out, while Sterling Brown (right lower leg soreness) is questionable.
The Bulls will enter Monday’s game with significant momentum, coming off a surprising 117-101 victory (box score) in Dallas on Sunday. Power forward Lauri Markkanen led the way with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets -2.5 (-110), Bulls +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rockets -135/Bulls +110
- Over-under: 226.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Christian Wood 23.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Victor Oladipo 21.5 (-115 O, -110 U), PJ Tucker 6.5 (-110 O, -115 U); Zach LaVine 26.5 (-105 O, -115 U); Coby White 17.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Lauri Markkanen 15.5 (-130 O, +100 U)
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
From NBA.com’s official game notes, projected starters for the Bulls are Coby White, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore, Jae’Sean Tate, PJ Tucker and Christian Wood.
The Rockets and Bulls already played a pair of preseason games in early December at United Center, with each team winning once.
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Advice and prediction
There could be the potential for some tired legs on Monday, given that the Bulls (5-8) will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back in two different cities. However, given Houston’s extreme absences of late, the Rockets (4-7) might not have too much sympathy for them.
The under might be the safest bet of all, given the exhaustion on both sides and the potential for fatigue as the game progresses.
Prediction: 111-107, Rockets
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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