Portland Blazers at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 1/1/2018

Monday, January 1, 2018

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to United Center to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday, January 1, 2018.

The Blazers head into this matchup with a mark of 18-17. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.0 as they are averaging 101.7 points per contest while giving up 100.7 per game. The Bulls have an overall mark of 13-22. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They are averaging 100.2 points per contest and giving up 105.9, which is a point differential of -5.7.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 16-17-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 10-25-0 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 21-12-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 18-17-0 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

12/31/17 PG Damian Lillard Leg is "?" Monday vs Chicago

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/29/17 PG Kris Dunn Knee is "?" Sunday vs Washington
10/12/17 PG Zach LaVine Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum averages 21 points per game in 36.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%. Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 25.2 points per game while playing 37.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 5 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 93%.

Player Spotlight

Kris Dunn averages 13.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.6 rebounds per contest and 5.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 67%. Lauri Markkanen averages 14.7 points per game while playing 29.5 minutes per contest this year for the Bulls. He grabs 7.4 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage currently is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 100.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.3 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they give up 18.9 assists per contest which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league. Portland averages 101.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.97 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls surrender 105.9 points per contest, which ranks them 18th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 24.4 assists allowed per contest, and 26th with 45.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season. Chicago is 28th in the league with 100.2 points per game this year. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -5.63. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 44.7 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 23.4. The Bulls are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 26th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.1, and their defensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 17th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 27th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. Portland is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 27th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 23rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league. The Bulls are 30th in the NBA in offensive rating with 102.2, and their defensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 28th. As a team they are 30th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 16th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Chicago

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald