Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 12/4/2017

Monday, December 4, 2017

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls on Monday, December 4, 2017. The opening line for this game has Cleveland as 9.5 point favorites.

The Cavaliers come into this game with an overall record of 16-7. They are 1st in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.5 as they are averaging 111.4 points per game while giving up 108.9 per contest. The Bulls have an overall mark of 3-18. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They are averaging 95.9 points per contest and giving up 107.0, which is a point differential of -11.1.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 8-14-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 13-9-1 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 9-10-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 9-12-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/02/17 F Channing Frye Finger left last game, is "?"
11/30/17 G Iman Shumpert Knee is out indefinitely
11/17/17 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is out indefinitely
11/02/17 C Tristan Thompson Calf is out indefinitely
10/16/17 PG Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/01/17 F Bobby Portis Arm is "?" Monday vs Cleveland
11/06/17 PG David Nwaba Ankle is out indefinitely
10/17/17 F Nikola Mirotic Facial is out indefinitely
10/12/17 PG Zach LaVine Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Lebron James comes into this game averaging 28.3 points per contest while playing 37.1 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 7.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 8.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 58% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Kevin Love averages 19 points per contest in 29.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.9 assists per game and 10.3 rebounds per contest for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 89%.

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen has scored 14.5 points per contest while playing 30.5 minutes per game this season for the Bulls. He hauls in 8 rebounds per contest and has 1.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Robin Lopez averages 13.1 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 30 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.6 rebounds per game and 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 111.4 points per contest this year, which is 3rd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.57 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 3rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 42.3 boards per contest and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 14th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 15th with 15 per game. The Cavaliers allow 108.9 points per contest which is 25th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 24th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.8 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they allow 25.1 assists per game which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago is 29th in the NBA with 95.9 points per contest this season. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is -11.1. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 27th in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.1 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 22.2. The Bulls are 20th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Bulls give up 107 points per game, which ranks them 18th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 22nd and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 27th with 24.8 dimes allowed per game and 29th with 46.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulls are 1st in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.3, and their defensive rating of 110.7 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 4th. As a team they are 3rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league. Cleveland is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 7th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 6th in the league. The Bulls are 30th in the NBA in offensive rating with 98.6, and their defensive rating of 110 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 19th in the league with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 30th. As a team they are 30th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 11th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland -9.5

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