Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 1/8/2018

Monday, January 8, 2018

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to United Center to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday, January 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 27-11. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 114.8 points per game while giving up 107.1 per contest. The Bulls have an overall mark of 14-26. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They are averaging 101.7 points per contest and giving up 107.9, which is a point differential of -6.2.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 17-20-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 19-18-1 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 23-15-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 22-18-0 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/31/17 G James Harden Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/14/17 F Luc Mbah a Moute Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/07/18 C Nene Hilario Knee is OUT Monday vs Chicago & Wednesday vs. Portland

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 17.2 points per game in 31.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 9.3 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 93%. Eric Gordon comes into this contest averaging 19.5 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 2.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen averages 14.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per contest and 1.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 84%. Kris Dunn averages 13.7 points per game while playing 29 minutes per contest this year for the Bulls. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per game and has 6.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets allow 107.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.3 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they give up 22.3 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the league. Houston averages 114.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.74 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.7 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 16th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 15.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls surrender 107.9 points per contest, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 27th with 24.7 assists allowed per contest, and 27th with 45.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game this season. Chicago is 24th in the league with 101.7 points per game this year. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -6.25. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 44.8 boards per game and 5th in assists per contest with 23.5. The Bulls are 20th in turnovers per game with 14.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 107.4, and their offensive rating of 115.2 is ranked 18th. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA. Houston is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 10th in the NBA.

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 11.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league. The Bulls are 28th in the NBA in offensive rating with 103.2, and their defensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 28th. As a team they are 29th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Houston -5

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