NBA Picks and Betting Tips: Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls

NLB Staff

02.11.2024 02:05

Nets vs Bulls Predictions

As a Brooklyn Nets squad that has created a lot of upsets during the early season heads into Chicago, they go up against a Bulls roster whose reconstructed team has helped them play at a much higher level this year. With the Nets coming off a 13-point victory over Memphis, Chicago had won a nail-bitter against a contender in Orlando last time out. This matchup will occur on November 2nd at 5:00 A.M. in the United Center of Chicago. Below are our betting tips, player props, past head-to-head matchups, and key injuries to predict this game.

Key Betting Tips & Predictions

1. Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Moneyline Pick

As the moneyline for this game is listed at -144 for the Bulls, they have a major advantage in this game given that their offense has taken a huge upward shift. With the ability of Coby White and Josh Giddey to be great two-way guards, these two will lockdown Cam Thomas or Dennis Schroeder from having another breakout game together. Knowing this and the Nets have to use Ben Simmons or Nic Claxton more in the offense, Vuecevic will come down with a lot of boards and help create a tempo for this Bulls team. Although the Nets hit their moneyline 3 straight times against Chicago, things will start changing now.

2. Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Point Spread Pick

As we look at the spread in this game, Chicago is favored at -2.5 and should hit this. Although the Nets have won 60% of their spreads against the Bulls since the beginning of last year, this is a very new-look Bulls roster. As Demar Derozan left, many have seen Coby White and Zach Lavine create a phenomenal combo, while Josh Giddey has managed to be their go-to three-point shooter and passer in space. In an unexpected turn of events this season, it is easy to see them attack a defense as weak as Brooklyn’s and the -2.5 pick looks great for this style of a matchup.

3. Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Over/Under Pick (Total Points)

The total over/under for this game is 220.5 points at 1.65. As these two squads have combined for 220 or more points 6 of the 7 times they have played each other previously, an improvement on both offenses should make it even more high scoring. Showing that they both have point guards that can really spread the floor with their shooting ability and shooting guards who can be very efficient, a lot of long-range shots will go down in this game. The only thing is it won’t be an extremely high-scoring game that goes over 240 points because of Chicago’s defensive that can hold down Brooklyn’s shooting.

Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Top Player Props

Coby White Over 19.5 points at 1.83: As Coby White gets a very easy defender to beat in Cam Thomas, he should continue proving to be one of the most improved scorers league wide. Knowing that a better defender in Schroeder will have to lockdown on Josh Giddey from being free, it create one on one battles which White will easily win through three-pointers and mid-range shots. As he is averaging 19.0 points per game this season, his score in this game should improve upon that.

Dennis Schroeder Under 16.5 points at 1.91: With Josh Giddey guarding Dennis Schroeder at the point, it will be a matchup that the Chicago’s Bulls point guard could really dominant. Since the Nets main scorer will once again be Cam Thomas, they will try to create mismatches where he can end up open while Schroeder is getting doubled. As a much slower guard than Giddey at the moment, the length and agility of Josh Giddey is something that Schroeder won’t be able to handle at his age. Seeing this, plus the fact he just scored 33 points this will be quite a slow night for him.

Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Injury News & Impact

Brooklyn Nets Injuries: As Trenton Watford has been out for a while now, his 39.7% from three is something that this Nets side misses when Ben Simmons switches into the forward position for him. With Bojan Bogdanovic, 41.0% from three, missing as well the Nets will have to rely on Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroeder to carry an even bigger load on this offense than they already provide. Since this Nets team has very little room for error as Day’Ron Sharpe still is missing time from his offseason injury, having Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith being their only experienced big-man will force Cam Thomas to dribble extra against a tougher Bulls defense.

Chicago Bulls Injuries: Seeing that Lonzo Ball is out once again due to a wrist injury, will force more pressure on Josh Giddey to perform as the team's starting point guard. For someone who had complimented Giddey’s game as a facilitator on offense, this could be a major issue having a point guard who likes to fire away from deep all game long. Seeing that Zach Lavine could face some missing time as well due to his left shoulder injury, this could be a missing piece as the Bulls will have to rely on Ayo Dosomonu to score a lot more off the bench. With Lavine averaging 23.0 points this season, a key guard who could get to the basket might change a lot of Chicago’s offensive plans.

Head-to-Head Trends

As the Nets have won 3 straight games against the Bulls, they have always seemed to have pretty close games for the most part. With 2 of their past three games ending in a difference of less than 10 points, the Nets did have two victories in a row before these matchups. Seeing that, the Nets are currently 3-2 against the spread over the past 5 games against Chicago, while the Bulls do average 112.8 points against Brooklyn in their last 7 games.

Betting Insights & Public Trends

Looking at the public trends, 58.3% of the better think that the Chicago Bulls will come out victorious over the Brooklyn Nets.

Final Prediction

As the Brooklyn Nets did come off an upset victory against Memphis, one of the key reasons was because the Grizzlies 2nd best player, Desmond Bane, had gotten hurt. Knowing this now and the fact that Chicago has been one of the best two-way teams this season, they should have an advantage even though they could be missing a key piece in Zach Lavine. With Josh Giddey improving a lot as a scorer and shooting the three-point shot at a ridicolus mark, he could really take advantage of Dennis Schroeder as someone who can move much faster than the Nets guard. With the shooting guard position being the most star-studded in this matchup, Coby White and Cam Thomas will go back and forth as two of the best mid-range, plus layups creators in this league. His greatness will really force someone like Dorian Finney-Smith to come down on him, giving the young Patrick Williams a lot of easy chances as a great layup getter. Even if Zach LaVine doesn’t play this game, having someone like Dalen Terry can provide and elusive scorer of the dribble that can shoot it from the top or corner. His quickness is something that the Nets Cameron Johnson will have a tough time handling and could lead to a lot more space when shooting. As Nikola Vucevic will be down low, he will handle the much weaker Nic Claxton offensively while even getting a lot more rebounds over him with his wingspan. As the Bulls center can move to the outside and shoot, he could also be a matchup nightmare for Ben Simmons of the bench or Jalen Wilson, as someone who has never really guarded before. But, if the Nets keep attacking the Bulls from deep and handle Dalen Terry if Zach Lavine doesn’t play they could end up with another upset victory.

Our Prediciton: The Chicago Bulls will win this game at a -2.5 spread and the combined score will be over 220.5 points.