Denver Keeps Looking Good
Who will stop the Denver Nuggets? They will face the Chicago Bulls next on Wednesday, a team that has been struggling. Denver has been one of the best teams in the NBA, sitting atop the Western Conference, while Chicago is outside the Eastern Conference play-in.
The Bulls lost to the Indiana Pacers on Monday, thanks to a last-second 3-pointer, despite Zach LaVine’s 42 points. That same day, the Nuggets won their fourth in a row facing the Toronto Raptors, 118-113, with their top four players having good games. It was a team win that showed why the Nuggets have one of the best NBA Finals odds.
Also check on these NBA betting lines.
Bulls Back to the Bottom
It seemed like the Bulls were getting ready to make a playoff push after the All-Star break, but losing their last two games could have changed things. The NBA playoffs odds are very deceptive this season, changing weekly, and in Chicago’s case, their chances only seem to be getting worse.
Nikola Vucevic admits that it’s hard to see the Bulls turning the season around
“Maybe 30 games ago, but now it’s hard to look at it that way.”
(Via @TheAthletic ) pic.twitter.com/yWHfG4Kb2c
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 6, 2023
The Bulls faced the Phoenix Suns and the Pacers in their last two games. Against the Suns, a top team in the West, Chicago gave little to no fight, losing 124-104. They gave a much better effort on Sunday against the Pacers, the team behind them in the standings, but it still wasn’t enough, losing 125-122.
Since the All-Star break, LaVine has hit another level in his play, averaging 31 points over the last six games, but the rest of the team hasn’t come along, going 3-3. DeMar DeRozan is the only other player averaging over 15 points during this stretch, at 22.3.
This lack of offense has been a problem all season for the team’s record but also for NBA picks. The Bulls have gone 2-8 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games, nearly matching a 3-7 overall record.
Nuggets Keep On Climbing
Much of the NBA news cycle is covering Nikola Jokić and his case to win a third straight MVP. It is hard to overlook his elite production, averaging 24.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. The Nuggets are also first in the West, with a seven-game lead and close to the best record in the league.
The Nuggets are finally healthy, providing Jokić with the talent he needs for team success. This has helped the team become one of the better NBA lines to take, going 7-3 ATS over the last 10 games.
Nuggets offense this season:
1st in FG%
1st in 3P%
2nd in APG
5th in PPG2nd best offensive rating all-time. pic.twitter.com/VPkdaSnaSy
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 6, 2023
Monday’s win against the Raptors put that on display. Jokić dominated, ending an assist away from another triple-double, with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jamal Murray scored a team-high 24 points, and Michael Porter Jr. added 20, combining for nine 3’s. Aaron Gordon also ended with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and had the best +/- in the game, 13.
Bulls vs Nuggets Game Injuries
Bulls vs Nuggets Head-to-Head
Last season, the Bulls won both games against the Nuggets, but the teams have changed so much since. The Nuggets have dominated the Bulls this season, winning 126-103 on Nov. 13, with Porter Jr. scoring 31 points.
Bulls vs Nuggets Game Information
- Game: Bulls (29-36) vs Nuggets (46-19)
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Day/Time: Wednesday, March 8, 9:00 p.m. EST
- Bulls vs Nuggets Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Bulls vs Nuggets Betting Lines
Bulls vs Nuggets Picks and Prediction
Based on talent, the Nuggets are the better team and are rightly favored in this game. On top of that, they are 30-4 at home and will face a struggling Bulls team.
All signs point to the Nuggets winning, and the question is whether they can cover. The spread is only set at eight points, which given the Nuggets’ offense and how the Bulls are playing, they should be able to cover.
The Denver Nuggets are listed at -350 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Nuggets, you have a chance to win $29. The Chicago Bulls is +280, offering a chance to win $280 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Denver Nuggets a 77.78% chance to win, with the Chicago Bulls at 26.32%.
Bulls vs Nuggets Trends
Bulls vs Nuggets Edge
Bulls vs Nuggets Results
Bulls vs Nuggets Game Summary
Nuggets vs Bulls Previous Game (Nov. 13, 2022)
The Denver Nuggets head East on Sunday to take on the Chicago Bulls at United Center. Both teams are looking to rebound after each lost their last time on the court. The Nuggets lost to the Boston Celtics, 131-112.
On the other hand, the Bulls dropped their last game 115-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans. Both struggled to contain the opposing offenses and need to work on ball security to get back on track.
On paper, the Nuggets have a better team, and it makes sense they are favored here. But they just are not showing me enough on the road to trust them here. The Bulls are coming off a loss, but with LaVine back in action every night, the Bulls should improve daily. As slight ML underdogs, I’m taking a chance on the hometown team.
