Nuggets Bulls odds picks prediction spread over/under betting line

The Denver Nuggets (8-4) visit the United Center Sunday to take on the Chicago Bulls (6-7). Tip is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Nuggets vs. Bulls odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

The Nuggets are coming into this game after being destroyed by the Celtics as 4-point underdogs on the road. Denver lost 131-112. That snapped a 4-game win streak.

The Nuggets’ strength is in both the efficiency of 2-time MVP C Nikola Jokic and their depth. Jokic averages 21.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. Denver has 6 players averaging double figures.

The Bulls, on the other hand, haven’t played since Wednesday, a 115-111 home loss to the Pelicans. Chicago has dropped 3 of its last 4 games this season. It is 4-3 at home and 2-4 on the road.

The Bulls are led by F DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 24.5 points per game and shooting 50.7% from the floor. G Zach LaVine is also averaging 22 points per game.

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Nuggets at Bulls odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Nuggets -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Bulls +102 (bet $100 to win $102)
Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets -1.5 (-115) | Bulls +1.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 232.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Nuggets at Bulls key injuries

Nuggets

G Bones Hyland (Health and Safety Protocols) out

Bulls

G Lonzo Ball (knee) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Nuggets at Bulls picks and predictions

Prediction

Bulls 119, Nuggets 115

Moneyline

BET BULLS (+102).

The Nuggets already rank 15th in net rating, which suggests that they aren’t as good as their 8-4 record indicates.

On top of that, their net rating plunges to -5.4 or 22nd in the NBA on the road. What the Nuggets do well defensively is owning the glass, and the Bulls aren’t a team that is heavily reliant on those extra opportunities.

Chicago is 4-3 against the spread (ATS) as the home team.

Against the spread

PASS.

I’ll take Chicago outright here instead of getting just a point-and-a-half.

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 232.5 (-105).

The Nuggets gave up 131 to the Celtics in their last time out, and the Bulls haven’t played in several days, meaning they should be rested and able to run on Denver. Denver is 7-5 O/U this season.

Both teams also rank in the top 10 in pace this season, which should help points come in bunches. With the Nuggets sitting second in effective field goal rate, they should be able to score on a weaker Chicago defense.

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The Denver Nuggets (11-11) visit the Windy City Monday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off at United Center with the Chicago Bulls (16-8). Below, we look at the Nuggets vs. Bulls odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.

This is Denver’s fourth game of a seven-game road trip and the Nuggets are 2-1 overall and ATS thus far. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic returned from a strained wrist injury to start the road swing. The Nuggets are 9-13 ATS and 11-11 O/U with the 16th-best net rating.

Chicago has won four of the past five games including three straight over the Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls are 16-8 ATS and 11-13 O/U with the fourth-best net rating.

The Bulls beat the Nuggets 114-108 in their first meeting of the season (Nov. 19), but Jokic didn’t suit up for that game. Chicago’s two leading scorers—Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan—combined for 62 points against Denver earlier this season.

Nuggets at Bulls odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:36 a.m. ET.

Money line: Nuggets +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Bulls -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets +3.5 (-105) | Bulls -3.5 (-120)
Over/Under (O/U): 217.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Nuggets at Bulls key injuries

Nuggets

SG Austin Rivers (health and safety protocols) out

Bulls

SG Alex Caruso (hamstring) doubtful
PG Coby White (health and safety protocols) out

Nuggets at Bulls odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Bulls 117, Nuggets 106

Money line

PASS with a heavy “lean” toward the Bulls (-175) because they match up very well against the Nuggets and this is on the fringe of my price range for an NBA regular-season money line favorite.

However, the Bulls match up so well with the Nuggets that I’ll chase the value with Chicago’s spread instead of spending extra for the pricey money line.

Against the spread

BET BULLS -3.5 (-120) because there are a few strength-on-weaknesses edges for Chicago.

The Bulls can pick-and-roll the Nuggets to death. Chicago runs the fifth-most pick-and-roll action through both the ball handler and the roll man. Denver’s pick-and-roll defense vs. the roll man grades in the 34.5th percentile and 27.6th percentile vs. the ball handler.

According to ShotQuality.com, Chicago generates the fourth-most shots out of pick-and-roll screens, while Denver’s defense allows the second-worst shot quality vs. pick-and-roll screens.

Also, the Bulls should feast in the mid-range. Chicago’s top-two scorers (LaVine and DeRozan) operate in the mid-range and the Bulls attempt the sixth-highest volume of mid-range jumpers, per CleaningTheGlass.com. Denver is 26th in defensive field-goal percentage vs. mid-range field goals.

The only hesitation I have with the BULLS -3.5 (-120) is the significant “reverse line movement” in Denver’s direction. A vast majority of the market is hammering Chicago here but the Bulls are getting cheaper. It’s a red flag whenever sportsbooks make the more popular side cheaper.

Chicago’s edges over Denver in this matchup are too overwhelming to pass on the BULLS -3.5 (-120).

Over/Under

PASS because the Over 217.5 (-108) is my preferred play on the total but we’d be getting to the party too late. The Nuggets-Bulls game opened with a 214-point total but has been steamed up by the market.

The basketball logic for the Over is Chicago will get buckets through pick-and-roll action and mid-range jumpers. But Denver runs a lot of post plays and is highly efficient in post-up offense whereas Chicago’s defense can struggle vs. post-up offense.

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Tag: Nuggets Bulls odds picks prediction spread over/under betting line

Denver Nuggets at Chicago Bulls odds, picks and predictions

Nuggets at Bulls odds

Nuggets at Bulls key injuries

Nuggets at Bulls picks and predictions

Prediction

Moneyline

Against the spread

Over/Under