NBA Basketball Matchup: Bulls vs 76ers
Derrick Rose is back in the lineup and the Bulls are playing some terrific basketball right now. Chicago has the best record in the Eastern Conference at 30-8.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers
7:00 PM EST
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Bulls -4.5
Over/Under: 180
The 76ers started the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, but they have been in a funk of late. Philadelphia really needs a win against a top team to get their momentum back, but it won’t be easy.
Derrick Rose leads the Bulls in scoring at 22.3 points per game. He takes great care of the basketball, and he averages 7.6 assists per game.
Rose is clearly the main man for this team, and they will go as far as he can lead them. Luol Deng averages 15.9 points per game, and he has upped his three-point percentage to 42.6% this year.
Joakim Noah started the season slowly, but he has really come on of late. Noah has had a double-double in five of the team’s last eight games. Rebounding is a major strength for this team and their frontcourt is as deep as anyone in the NBA. Defensively, the Bulls give up just 88.2 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Philadelphia is a team without a clear leader, but they have plenty of very good players. Six guys average double figures in points for the 76ers, but only five of them are active right now since Spencer Hawes is out with an injury. Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday are the Sixers leading scorers at 15.7 and 13.6 points per game.
Both of them shoot 38% from beyond the arc. Andre Iguodala is the veteran of this team, and he is a stat sheet stuffer. Philadelphia is at its best when Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand are scoring in the paint. The 76ers lead the NBA in field goal percentage defense. Opponents shoot just 41.5% against Philadelphia.
A game between these two should be a defensive battle. Baskets will be difficult to come by in this one.
The 76ers should be highly motivated, and I think they will put forth a great effort here.
Prediction: Philadelphia 89 Chicago 88
