Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

BMO Harris Bradley Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Chicago Bulls travel to BMO Harris Bradley Center to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, December 15, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee as 9 point favorites.

The Bulls come into this game with an overall record of 7-20. They are 5th in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of -8.1 as they are averaging 97.6 points per game while giving up 105.7 per contest. The Bucks have an overall record of 15-11. They currently are 2nd in the Central Division. They are averaging 104.0 points per game and surrendering 104.2, good for a point differential of -0.2.

Valuable Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 14-11-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 12-15-0 against the over/under

Important Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 10-12-4 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-11-0 against the over/under

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/14/17 F Lauri Markkanen Back is "?" Friday vs Milwaukee
10/12/17 PG Zach LaVine Knee is out indefinitely

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/14/17 SG Tony Snell Knee is "?" Friday vs Chicago
12/08/17 PG Matthew Dellavedova Knee is out indefinitely
11/21/17 F Mirza Teletovic Knee is out indefinitely
10/16/17 F Jabari Parker Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen comes into this contest averaging 14.7 points per game while playing 30.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Bulls. He pulls down 8.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Kris Dunn averages 12.7 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.1 assists per contest and 5 rebounds per game for Chicago. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 29.9 points per game while playing 37.7 minutes per contest this year for the Bucks. He grabs 10.3 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%. Khris Middleton averages 19.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 4.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago averages 97.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.19 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 30th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 25th in the league. They average 44.6 rebounds per game and 22.2 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 23rd with 14 per game. The Bulls allow 105.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 16th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 19th and 17th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.1 rebounds a game which ranks 26th and they give up 24.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 13 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee is 18th in the league with 104 points per game this year. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is -0.19. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 17th in the NBA. They are 30th in the league in rebounding with 38.2 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 22.2. The Bucks are 30th in turnovers per game with 13.4. The Bucks surrender 104.2 points per contest, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 40% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 21.9 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 42.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bucks are 27th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 30th in the league in defensive rating with 108.5, and their offensive rating of 100.1 is ranked 12th. They are 15th in the NBA in pace with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 30th. As a unit they are 30th in the league in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. Chicago is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 9th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Milwaukee is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 7th in the league. The Bucks are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.8, and their defensive rating of 109 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 7th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 24th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Bulls/Bucks NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Chicago +9

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