On Monday night, Chicago travels to Sacramento to conclude its two-game series. The Bulls (28-32 SU, 31-28-1 ATS) were routed on their home field by Milwaukee on Friday, 113-97, with +3.5 underdogs. The Kings (34-25 SU, 30-28-1 ATS) earned a 124-120 victory at Minnesota on Friday as a +8 underdog. The Golden 1 Center opening announcement is scheduled for 10:10 a.m. EST.
Chicago still in sight
Despite their record and recent form, the Bulls are still in the playoff picture, sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, four games above the play-in line. They have gone 2-4 SU over their last six games, with their offense averaging 109.2 points per game. Chicago ranks 25thth in the NBA averaging 111.7 points per night. They are shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three-point range and are averaging 11.6 threes and 16.8 free throws per game. Their 11.7 turnovers per game are third best in the league while their assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 18th.th generally. DeMar DeRozan Friday night, he had nine assists, but shot just 5-13 and scored 12 points, his lowest output in 17 games. The forward leads the Bulls with 22.7 points per game on the year and averages 23 per game over his last five.
On the defensive end, Chicago is giving up 113.1 points per game, 12th in the NBA. Opponents are shooting 47% against them from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc. The teams also make 14.6 three-pointers against the Bulls each game and 17.2 free throws. There are 13 of themth in the league with 44 rebounds per game, giving them a rebound differential of +0.4. The Bulls defense averages 7.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game. Nikola Vucevic missed a fifth straight double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds on Friday. The Chicago center averaged 11.9 rebounds over his last eight games and his 10.7 rebounds per game that year ranked seventh in the NBA.
Sacramento looking for some ascension
The Kings find themselves walking a fine line between Tournament Play-In and a direct shot at the playoffs as they currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, a half-game out of sixth. Their offense has averaged 113.7 points per game over their last six games, a 4-2 SU stretch. This season, Sacramento’s offense is averaging 118.2 points per game, the eighth-best mark in the NBA. They are shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 14.6 threes and 15.5 free throws per game. The Kings are fourth in the league with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.15, averaging 12.7 turnovers per game. Monk Malik On Friday, he scored a season-high 39 points, shooting 16-29 from the field with five threes. It was the first game this season where the Kings guard scored 30 or more points.
Sacramento’s defense gives up an average of 117.9 points per game, 22sd in the NBA. Opposing teams are shooting 48.9 percent from the field against the Kings and 39.6 percent from three-point range while averaging 13.3 three-pointers and 18.7 free throws as well. Sacramento is averaging 43.2 rebounds per game, leaving them with a +0.6 rebound differential. Their defense adds 7.3 steals and four blocks per game. Domantas Sabonis on Friday, he had 21 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. The Sacramento forward has averaged 13.7 rebounds over his last seven games and his average of 13.3 per game leads the league.
The best Sunday plays
The best pieces of the day
David Delano – 16-1 CBB Run – Grab David’s Best College Basketball Game for Sunday for Just $29 – CLICK HERE
MIT simulator – 19-4 NBA Run – Grab MIT’s Sunday NBA Backboard Breaker for Just $29 – CLICK HERE
David Hesse – 22-8 CBB Best Bet Run – Snag David’s CBB Sunday Totals Destroyer for Just $29 – CLICK HERE
Scott Steehn – 10-2 CBB Best Bet Run – Get Scott’s Sunday Big 10 Blaster for just $29 – CLICK HERE
Best Bets
Full Game Side Bet
Rating:
These two met just a month ago, with Sacramento taking an eight-point road win as +1 underdogs. The Kings put up 71 points in the first half in that game and shot 50% for the game. They also turned the ball over 17 times and still managed to maintain control from wire to wire. At home, Sacramento averages 6.1 points more than on the road. In their last five wins, the Kings have won by an average margin of 11.8 points per game, so they are very capable of winning big. Sacramento is 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the Bulls.
Take the kings who give the points.
Prediction: Sacramento -7.5
Do you want a second opinion on this choice?
Total choice of the complete game
Rating:
The first meeting between these two totaled 238 points for a total of 228.5 points. This season there have been 63 games between the two teams that scored over. The Bulls are one of the slowest teams in the league, ranking 29th in the DunksandThrees.com pace rankings. Sacramento ranks 12th in this category and they managed to dictate the pace against Chicago in their first meeting. If they manage to do it again, we should expect plenty of points to be scored. In their last five home games, the Kings have scored an average total of 240.6 points. Over their last ten games, Chicago’s offense has scored at least 112 points in six of them. The score is 6-4 in the last ten meetings between these two.
Take over.
Prediction: Over 229.5
