The Chicago Bulls bounced back from their disheartening 100-91 loss to the Detroit Pistons with a crucial win Saturday at home over the Phoenix Suns. They will look to make it back-to-back wins when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks who are coming off an 11-point defeat to Eastern Conference leaders Atlanta Hawks.
Read on below for a preview of this basketball showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers here.
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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago
When: Monday, February 23, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Milwaukee Bucks (+7.5) at Chicago Bulls (-7.5); total: 193.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee had its four-game winning streak snapped Sunday with a 97-86 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. It was a disappointing defeat for the Bucks who dropped to 31-24 in the team standings, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
[sc:NBA240banner ]For a while though, it seemed like the Bucks would stage an improbable comeback once again. Trailing by 16 points early on, the Bucks inched their way back into the game, tying it at 64 late in the third quarter. The Hawks, however, put their recent struggles behind them, torching the Bucks with a back-breaking 24-7 run at the start of the fourth quarter to put the outcome of the game beyond doubt.
It’s back to the drawing board then for the Bucks who will next face the Chicago Bulls later tonight. For them to defeat the Bulls on the road, they will need to follow the same template that they used in the third quarter when they made that huge run against the Hawks.
The Bucks dominated the hustle stats during that period, collecting five offensive rebounds and four steals in the third quarter. The latter statistic was no surprise as the Bucks are one of the best defensive teams in the league with regards to stealing the basketball. The Bucks are third in the NBA in that department, averaging 9.5 swipes per game.
They will need to apply that same kind of ball pressure against the Bulls who have dominated them in their two meetings thus far this season. The Bulls scored an average of 95 points in their two encounters with Chicago putting up 24 assists in both of those games. That’s way more than the 21.8 assists the Bucks allow their opponents per game.
With Brandon Knight (1.62 SPG) now part of the Phoenix Suns, though, the onus is on point guard Jerryd Bayless to up the ante on the defensive end. Bayless showed his defensive wares the last time out, grabbing three steals in the game against the Hawks.
It was his contribution on the offensive end, though, that proved to be a pleasant surprise for the Bucks, putting up 13 points, three rebounds and three assists for Milwaukee. With Michael Carter-Williams’ status still uncertain for the Bulls game because of a foot injury, expect Bayless to log in major minutes for the Bucks tonight.
The Chicago Bulls returned to winning ways Saturday with a thrilling 112-107 win over the Phoenix Suns. It was an impressive bounce-back victory for the Bulls who climbed back to the top of the Central Division with a 35-21 record.
After struggling mightily in their previous game against the Pistons, the Bulls came out a more focused unit against the Suns this time around. A total of six players scored in double figures for the Bulls, led by Spanish big man Pau Gasol who poured in team-high numbers of 22 points and 14 rebounds.
The Bulls will fancy their chances of registering back-to-back wins as they will next face the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls are unbeaten in their last five meetings with the Bucks, two of which have come this season.
Expected to play a key part for the Bulls in this game is Gasol once again. In their last meeting with the Bucks last January, Gasol scored a career-high 46 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Gasol carried the scoring cudgels for the Bulls as Derrick Rose was sidelined in that game because of left knee soreness.
The good news for the Bulls is that Rose is fit and raring to go against the Bucks tonight. Rose had 16 points and five assists in the game against the Suns and he will play an integral part in unlocking a Milwaukee side that is the fourth-best defensive team in the NBA this season, allowing just 96.9 points per game.
You can criticize Rose all you want but the fact is he is still the team’s second-highest scorer (18.6 PPG) and the Bulls’ leader in assists (5.0 APG). In fact, he scored 13 points and dished out a team-high seven assists in the Bulls’ 95-86 win over the Bucks in their first meeting this season.
It is Gasol, though, who will undoubtedly be the main man for Chicago tonight. Gasol is experiencing a renaissance with the Bulls this season, averaging 18.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
