Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2018

Saturday, December 15, 2018

AT&T Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Chicago Bulls travel to AT&T Center to play the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, December 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 8.5 point favorites.

The Bulls have a record of 6-23. They are 5th in the Central Division. They have a point differential of -10.9 as they average 101.4 points per game while giving up 112.3 per contest. The Spurs have an overall mark of 15-14. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They total 110.8 points per contest and give up 111.5, which is a point differential of -0.7.

Valuable Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 13-15-0 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 9-19-0 against the over/under

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 14-13-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 17-11-0 against the over/under

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/13/18 SF Chandler Hutchison Illness is questionable Saturday vs San Antonio
10/20/18 G Denzel Valentine Ankle is out for season

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

11/11/18 C Pau Gasol Foot is out indefinitely
10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Justin Holiday comes into this contest averaging 12.6 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Zach Lavine averages 23.8 points per game in 35.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.8 assists per contest and 4.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 18.5 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 9.5 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. DeMar DeRozan averages 23.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.6 rebounds per contest and 6.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago averages 101.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -10.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 22nd in the league. They average 41.3 rebounds per game and 21.8 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 15.6 per game. The Bulls allow 112.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 18th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 49.0 rebounds a game which ranks 30th and they give up 25.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio is 14th in the league with 110.8 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -0.7. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 17th in the league in rebounding with 44.4 boards per game, and 14th in assists per contest with 24.0. The Spurs are 29th in turnovers per game with 12.2. The Spurs surrender 111.5 points per contest, which ranks them 21st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 22nd with 24.9 assists allowed per contest and 11th with 44.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spurs are 5th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 30th in the league in defensive rating with 111.2, and their offensive rating of 100.5 is ranked 18th. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 99.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 27th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA. Chicago is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 10th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 29th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Spurs are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112, and their defensive rating of 112.7 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 98.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 15th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take San Antonio -8.5

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