THE Chicago Bulls will face the Houston Rockets Thursday at the Toyota Center. Tip-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET.
The Rockets are favorites with a gap of 2.5 points and the match total is 213.5 points.
Chicago (34-35 SU, 35-33-1 ATS and 37-31-1 O/U) beat Portland 110-107 on Monday. The Bulls are 9th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Houston (33-35 SU, 38-29-1 ATS and 31-36-1 O/U) defeated Washington 137-114 on Tuesday. The Rockets are 11th in the West standings.
Chicago defeated Houston 124-119 in overtime on January 10. The Rockets shot a higher field goal percentage, as they outshot the Bulls 56-30 in the paint, but were off the mark from three-point range (11 for 45). ). The Bulls made 40.4 percent of their triples and knocked down 84.0 percent of their foul shots.
Injury report
Bulls: SG Coby White (19.5 PPG and 5.2 APG) and SG Alex Caruso (9.9 PPG) are questionable to play.
Rockets: No new injuries to report.
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Are the Bulls guards healthy enough for Thursday?
Chicago is averaging 112.0 points per game (23rd) and shooting 46.6 percent (20th), including 35.8 percent from three-point range (20th). He converts 79.3 percent of his free throw attempts (10th) and averages 43.6 rebounds per game (17th). The Bulls also average 24.9 assists (24th) and 12.3 turnovers per game (3rd).
Chicago is giving up 113.6 points per game (14th), and its opponents are shooting 47.1 percent (13th), including 36.5 percent from deep (15th), with 43.7 rebounds per game (16th). The Bulls average 4.9 blocks (21st), 7.6 steals per game (12th) and 18.9 fouls per game (16th).
Chicago ranks 19th in offensive rating, 19th in defensive rating and 29th in pace (schedule-adjusted), according to Dunks and Threes.
I picked up another W at home ????@Plus500 | #See red pic.twitter.com/o02nwTjjN5
– Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 19, 2024
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Houston rides the rise of Jalen Green
Houston is averaging 113.6 points per game (18th) and shooting 46.0 percent (26th), including 35.0 percent from three-point range (27th). He converts 77.0 percent of his free throw attempts (20th) and averages 46.0 rebounds per game (4th). The Rockets also average 24.8 assists (25th) and 12.9 turnovers per game (9th).
Houston is allowing 112.5 points per game (11th), and its opponents are shooting 46.0% (6th), including 34.7% from deep (3rd), with 44.7 rebounds per game (23rd). The Rockets average 4.6 blocks (24th), 7.7 steals per game (9th) and 20.9 fouls per game (28th).
Houston ranks 21st in offensive rating, 8th in defensive rating and 13th in tempo (schedule-adjusted), according to Dunks and Threes.
A goal in mind.
There is still work to be done ???? pic.twitter.com/Uwe2069m3Z
-Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 20, 2024
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Best bets for this game
Full Game Side Bet
Insider status:
Rating:
The Rockets have been playing excellent basketball recently, winning six straight and eight of their last nine games. The loss of big man Alperen Sengun seemed like a major setback, but Jalen Green more than made up for Sengun’s absence, scoring 42 points against Washington, 26 against Cleveland and 37 against Washington in the team’s final three games. The high-flying three-point assassin is gearing up for another big performance Thursday against a Bulls team that will miss some perimeter defense if White and Caruso are unavailable or too banged up to compete for four quarters.
Houston has the momentum, home-court advantage and a better chance to cover the spread. He dominated inside last game and should face the Bulls at the rim again (20th from opposing edge FG%) tomorrow. On the other side of the court, don’t bet on Chicago to keep up. Houston’s defense is solid in the paint (8th in opponent FG time%) and on the perimeter (3rd in opponent 3PT time%).
Prediction: Houston -2.5
Total choice of the complete game
Insider Status:
Rating:
With a total of 213.5 points, I think the over will be conceded in Thursday’s Bulls-Rockets game.
The over conceded three straight games in Houston, as Green broke out and the Rockets took advantage of poor defensive efforts from Washington (twice) and Cleveland. Chicago is expecting a tough game, as Caruso didn’t practice Wednesday after injuring his ankle Monday and White is questionable after missing the last three games with a hip sprain. This could make it difficult to slow down the Rockets’ perimeter scoring threats, especially once the home team begins to force their way into the paint.
Winner of three of its last four and six of its last nine, Chicago is not likely to go down without a fight tomorrow. The Bulls could have more success at the rim in this matchup, as Sengun’s absence makes the Rockets more vulnerable at the rim. If the Bulls can find their way to the foul line (10th in FT%), it will help ensure a money overrun at 213.5.
Prediction: Over 213.5
