Despite the injuries they’re facing, the Chicago Bulls are -5.5 favorites against a new-look Sacramento Kings lineup as of this writing. They meet at the United Center at 8 p.m. ET. The over/under is 233.5, where it opened.
Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Williams are all out for an extended period of time for Chicago, but it hasn’t mattered. DeMar DeRozan is playing at an MVP level, averaging 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season. The addition of Nikola Vucevic has also bolstered the interior as he’s averaging a double-double with 18.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Sacramento (22-37) took part in several trades, namely landing Domanatas Sabonis in a package that sent Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to Indiana. Worth it? Time will tell, but pairing with De’Aaron Fox has been a solid start.
Sabonis has a pair of double-doubles and flirted with triple-doubles in two of the first three games with the Kings.
Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
The Bulls (37-21) have been tough to beat at the United Center. They are 22-8 in the Windy City and are winners of four straight. Three of those were at home, and the under has hit in three of those four wins, too.
Chicago is tied atop the Eastern Conference with Miami and is 34-23-1 against the spread and 31-26-1 on over/unders.
Billy Donavan’s team is top-10 in scoring — seventh at 112.4 points per game — and the most efficient shooting team, tops in field goal percentage (48.3%) and 3-point percentage (37.6%). It has paced them so far despite being below average defensively, 18th in points allowed per game with 110.2 per contest. Some of that is due to the injuries to Williams, a versatile wing, and Caruso, a strong on-ball defender.
Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
Sabonis gives the Kings an anchor defensively around the rim, which should be a step up from Richaun Holmes and creates needed frontcourt depth. They also added key rotational pieces in Justin Holiday, Donte DiVencenzo, Trey Lyles, and Josh Jackson, which gives them more depth all-around despite parting with a budding star and sharpshooter. Jeremy Lamb is questionable Wednesday with an ankle injury.
Sacramento has been decent offensively, ranking 14th at 109.7 points per game, though their efficiency is below league average. It also has one of the worst defenses in the league, ranking 28th in allowing 114.7 points per contest.
Betting Prediction
Sacramento is not having a great season; worse yet, it is 7-20 away from home. The severe home/road splits favor the Bulls, as should the quality of talent.
Coby White has taken a step forward, rising to the fourth-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game on 39.4% 3-point shooting. His emergence, along with Ayo Dosunmu, who looks like a second-round steal, have helped Chicago weather the storm of injuries it has faced.
If anything is going to hurt the Bulls, it’s their lack of depth or potential foul trouble. The Sabonis-Vucevic matchup will be one to watch. They also got Derrick Jones Jr. back to the rotation, which helps.
Prediction: Bulls -5.5
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