Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago
When: Thursday, March 2, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Golden State Warriors (-8) vs. Chicago Bulls (+8); total: 217.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the Golden State Warriors (50-10)
The Golden State Warriors had their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a gut-wrenching 112-108 loss to the Washington Wizards. They simply had no answer for Washington’s depth with all five Wizards starters scoring in double-figures. It was a disappointing defeat for the Warriors who dropped to 50-10 this season.
The more pressing concern for head coach Steve Kerr is Kevin Durant’s injury situation. Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise in the first quarter of that loss to Washington and will be sidelined for at least a month. Durant has been a vital cog in Golden State’s success this season, leading the team not only in scoring (25.3) but also in rebounds (8.2) and blocks (1.6).
Make no mistake about it, though, the Warriors have more than enough talent to survive without Durant in the lineup. Golden State has a net rating of plus-6.6 in the 920 minutes Durant has been off the floor this season. Expect two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to pick up the scoring cudgels for Golden State in Durant’s absence. The Warriors also bolstered their bench by acquiring former player Matt Barnes. The 37-year-old is averaging 7.6 points per game on 38.4 percent shooting this season.
The Warriors are 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the Chicago Bulls (30-30)
The Chicago Bulls also had their four-game unbeaten run snapped on Tuesday, losing heavily to the Denver Nuggets, 125-107. The Bulls had difficulty stopping Nikola Jokic who recorded his third triple-double of the season (19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists). Chicago looked miserable on the defensive end, allowing a season-high 125 points against the Nuggets.
The Bulls can ill afford to repeat that kind of defensive performance against an offensive juggernaut like the Warriors who are averaging an NBA-best 118.1 points per game this season. The good news for head coach Fred Hoiberg is that his team’s injury concerns are starting to ease up. When Chicago lost to Golden State, 123-92, last month, the Bulls were missing the services of star duo Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. Both players are now fit and ready to go for Thursday’s crunch clash with the Warriors.
Speaking of Butler, the one thing that’s ailing the Bulls star at the moment is his erratic shooting form. Since the All-Star break, he’s just 18-of-53 from the field over his last three games. Butler’s performance against the Nuggets was his worst of the season, scoring just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting from the floor. He leads the Bulls in scoring this season with a 24.0 PPG average.
The Bulls are 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Golden State wins but Chicago (+8) covers.
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