Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 12/7/2018

Friday, December 7, 2018

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls on Friday, December 7, 2018. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 9.5 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 16-7. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 7.1 as they average 111.1 points per contest while giving up 104.0 per game. The Bulls have an overall mark of 5-20. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They total 102.8 points per contest and give up 112.3, which is a point differential of -9.4.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 14-9-0 against the spread this season

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-13-0 against the over/under this year

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 12-13-0 against the spread this season

The Chicago Bulls are 8-17-0 against the over/under this year

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

10/25/18 F Bobby Portis Knee is out 4-6 weeks
10/23/18 PG Kris Dunn Knee is out 4-6 weeks
10/20/18 G Denzel Valentine Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Paul George comes into this game averaging 24.3 points per contest while playing 34.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Dennis Schroder averages 16.4 points per contest in 29.5 minutes per game. He averages 5.0 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Jabari Parker scores 16.4 points per contest while playing 32.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 71%. Zach Lavine averages 24.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 35.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.2 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 111.1 points per contest, which is 12th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 7.1 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They average 49.1 boards per contest and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 17th with 14.1 per game. The Thunder allow 104.0 points per contest, which is 4th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 4th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.9 rebounds a game which ranks 10th, and they allow 23.2 assists per game which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 16.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago is 29th in the NBA with 102.8 points per contest this season. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -9.44. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 24th in the league. They are 26th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.0 boards per contest and 23rd in assists per game with 22.3. The Bulls are 8th in turnovers per contest with 14.9. The Bulls give up 112.3 points per game, which ranks them 23rd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 15th and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 24.7 dimes allowed per game and 30th with 49.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulls are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 102.1, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 1st. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 101.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 24th. As a unit they are 25th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. Oklahoma City is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 29th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 14th in the league. The Bulls are 30th in the NBA in offensive rating with 101.5, and their defensive rating of 110.8 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 13th in the league with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 27th. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 19th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -9.5

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