New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New York Knicks travel to United Center to play the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has New York as 2 point favorites.

The Knicks head into this matchup with a mark of 12-12. They are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.2 as they are averaging 103.8 points per contest while giving up 103.6 per game. The Bulls have an overall mark of 3-20. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They are averaging 95.7 points per contest and giving up 106.8, which is a point differential of -11.1.

Valuable New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 14-10-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 9-14-1 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 10-11-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 9-14-0 against the over/under

Key New York Knicks Injuries

12/05/17 G Tim Hardaway Jr. Leg is out indefinitely

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/07/17 F Nikola Mirotic Facial is upgraded to probable Friday vs Charlotte
10/12/17 PG Zach LaVine Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Enes Kanter comes into this contest averaging 13.8 points per game while playing 26 minutes per night so far this season for the Knicks. He pulls down 10.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 62% while his free throw percentage is currently at 92%. Courtney Lee averages 13.1 points per game in 32.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 3.6 rebounds per game for New York. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 93%.

Player Spotlight

Robin Lopez averages 13.3 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per contest this year for the Bulls. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%. Lauri Markkanen averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.9 rebounds per contest and 1.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

New York averages 103.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.17 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 21st in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 23.3 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 16.3 per game. The Knicks allow 103.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 39.5 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 22.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 14th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago is 29th in the league with 95.7 points per game this year. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is -11.17. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They are 13th in the league in rebounding with 44.1 boards per game, and 19th in assists per contest with 22. The Bulls are 21st in turnovers per game with 14.4. The Bulls surrender 106.8 points per contest, which ranks them 18th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 25th with 24.5 assists allowed per contest and 27th with 46.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Knicks are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 107.7, and their offensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 14th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 14th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA. New York is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 24th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Bulls are 30th in the NBA in offensive rating with 98.8, and their defensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 96.3 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 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Chicago +2

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