Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets Expert NBA Picks Against the Spread 1/17/2019

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Chicago Bulls travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, January 17, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 12.5 point favorites.

The Bulls head into this matchup with a mark of 10-34. They are 4th in the Central Division. They have a point differential of -10.0 as they average 100.9 points per contest while giving up 110.9 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 29-14. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They total 110.4 points per contest and give up 106.3, which is a point differential of 4.1.

Valuable Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 20-22-1 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 17-26-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 23-19-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 19-23-0 against the over/under

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

10/20/18 G Denzel Valentine Ankle is out for season

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely
01/15/19 G Gary Harris Hamstring is questionable Thursday vs Chicago

Player Spotlight

Zach Lavine comes into this contest averaging 23.2 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 86%. Kris Dunn averages 12.8 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.7 assists per contest and 4.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray averages 18.5 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Nikola Jokic averages 19.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.1 rebounds per contest and 7.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago averages 100.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -10.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 20th in the league. They average 41.4 rebounds per game and 21.5 assists per game, which ranks them 27th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 14.4 per game. The Bulls allow 110.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 17th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 19th and 15th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.5 rebounds a game which ranks 27th and they give up 24.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 18th in the league with 110.4 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.1. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 46.8 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 27.2. The Nuggets are 23rd in turnovers per game with 13.3. The Nuggets surrender 106.3 points per contest, which ranks them 6th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 24.2 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 42.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 8th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 30th in the NBA in offensive rating with 101.8, and their defensive rating of 111.9 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 98.2 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 31% of their shots, ranking 26th in the league. Chicago is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 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 10th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 24th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 14th in the NBA. The Nuggets are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 109.5, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 13th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 15th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Denver -12.5

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