Check out our free Rockets vs Bulls pick and preview for this NBA game in Chicago. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this NBA matchup.
Rockets vs Bulls NBA Pick & Preview
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
- Where: Chicago at United Center
- Date: Monday, December 26th
- Betting Odds CHI -8, HOU +265 | CHI -345 O/U 227.0
The Rockets come into today’s matchup with an overall record of 9-23. So far, the team has gone 14-16-2 against the spread. Today, the Rockets will be looking to snap a 5 game losing streak. In these games, they have an average scoring differential of -9.2 points.
Houston will be gunning to get in the win column vs the Bulls, as they previously lost to the Mavericks by a score of 112-106. However, because they entered as 7 point underdogs, they came away with an ATS win. Houston got off to a slow start, trailing by 11 points going into halftime. In the loss, Jabari Smith Jr. led the team in scoring with 24 points on a field goal percentage of 58.8%.
So far, the Bulls have put together an overall record of 14-18, while going 16-16-0 vs the spread. The Bulls entered today’s game having picked up 3 straight wins. This has come on an average scoring differential of 4.33 points per game.
The Bulls are coming off a 118-117 win over the Knicks. This win came despite entering the game as the 5 point underdogs. Even though Chicago did not immediately put a dent in their halftime deficit as they trailed by 3 points heading into 4th, they still managed to come out on top. In the win, Zach LaVine led the team in scoring with 33 points on a field goal percentage of 54.5%.
Head To Head Recap & Stats
In last season’s head-to-head matchups, the teams split the season series. In these games, each team won on their home floor. In last year’s head-to-head meetings, the Rockets averaged 118.0 points per game vs Chicago, which was an increase over their season-long average. On the other side, the Bulls also experienced an uptick in scoring during head-to-head matchups, averaging 123.0 points per game vs Houston. The ATS record across the previous 5 head-to-head meetings is 3-2 in favor of the Bulls. In these matchups, Chicago has averaged 117 points per game, while allowing 114. Over the course of these games, they averaged 231 points per game, leading a 3-2 over-under record.
Odds & Free Betting Analysis For This NBA Game
Through 32 games, the Rockets are averaging 109.4 points per contest, placing them 28th in the NBA. Coming into today’s game, the Rockets will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 11.3 made 3’s per game. One area of the team’s offense that has been effective is their ability to get to the free-throw line. So far, they are ranked 5th, with an average of 19.9 made free-throws per game.
Currently, the Rockets defense is ranked 30th in points allowed. So far, opposing teams are averaging 118.2 points per game vs the unit.
This season, the Rockets offense has primarily worked through Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. who are 1st and 2nd on the team in scoring. In his 32 games, Green is 39th in the NBA at 21.3 points per game. So far, him and Porter Jr. have accounted for 37% of the team’s field goal attempts while combining to average 40.0 points per contest. In addition to sitting 2nd on the team in scoring, Kevin Porter Jr. is grabbing 5.4 rebounds for Houston to go along with 5.5 assists.
Through 32 games, the Bulls are averaging 113.2 points per contest, placing them 16th in the NBA. In terms of pace, the Bulls are on the top units in the NBA, averaging 100.3 possessions per game. Although the Bulls offense does a good job generating possessions, their poor shooting numbers are a key reason for their poor scoring numbers. So far, the team has an effective field goal percentage of just 54.4%.
Defensively, Chicago has had its problems giving up an average of 112.0 points per game (17th).
This season, the Bulls offense has primarily worked through DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine who are 1st and 2nd on the team in scoring. In his 32 games, DeRozan is 17th in the NBA at 25.8 points per game. So far, him and LaVine have accounted for 41% of the team’s field goal attempts while combining to average 47.900000000000006 points per contest. In addition to sitting 2nd on the team in scoring, Zach LaVine is grabbing 4.4 rebounds for Chicago to go along with 4.2 assists.
Rockets vs Bulls Pick
- Free Spread Prediction: Bulls -8
- Free Total Prediction: Over 227.0
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