by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Nov 05, 2021
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bulls -3.5
BetMGM: Bulls -3.5
Caesars: Bulls -3.5
Season record
76ers: 7-2
Bulls: 6-2
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76ers - Bulls preview and analysis
Recent form
76ers: won five straight, won 109-98 at Pistons on Thursday
Bulls: lost 103-98 at 76ers on Wednesday
Welcome to the 1980s, or '90s if you're that cathartic, where scoring is down, defense is great, and the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls are at the top of the Eastern Conference.
No, we do not acknowledge the Derrick Rose era for reasons.
But it is refreshing to see these two teams playing like a collection of madmen to start this season, and they'll pick up a rematch from earlier in the week when Philly won by five against Chicago at Wells Fargo Center.
Despite DeMar DeRozan's game-high 37 points on an unreal 13 of 22 shooting, the Sixers got more of a balanced scoring attack led by 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists from Joel Embiid, and a team-high 22 points from Seth Curry.
"Every guy on this team is definitely resilient," DeRozan said after that game. "We're going to fight until the end. Now it's about just channeling that energy from the start of the game and understanding we have to play as close to a 48-minute game as possible. We can't have too many lapses. Teams are too good in this league to have lapses and they take advantage of it."
It's a young Bulls team that has been the darlings of the NBA world under new head coach Billy Donovan. Zach LaVine continues to look like an All-Star for the second year in a row; Lonzo Ball has been a terrific addition on both ends, and they haven't needed Nikola Vucevic to lock into that All-Star talent to win six of eight.
It's all about DeRozan and his start. The All-Star forward, who signed a max deal with the Bulls after spending the last two seasons in San Antonio as the other centerpiece to the Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors, leads the Bulls with 27 points per game while shooting an absurd 50.6 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from 3-point range.
This isn't going to last, but to see DeRozan reach back into that superstar caliber level is so fun.
The Bulls haven't played since that loss in Philly, but the Sixers come in winners of five straight after winning by 11 in the second game of the back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons.
Curry and Maxey combined for 43 points, and Embiid had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Sixers, who are off to a 7-2 start without Ben Simmons anywhere near the team. They're also without forward Tobias Harris, who entered COVID-19 safety protocol on Wednesday and will not play Saturday.
"We have gritty guys who are just here to win basketball games," Sixers forward Georges Niang said, who had 14 points off the bench. "We came in here on the second half of a back-to-back after a tough win against Chicago plus everything this morning and got a win. This is a big team effort."
Prediction
The Bulls have been a couple of plays away from an undefeated start, and early indications are they are for real should they stay healthy. Never underestimate a quick turnaround for teams after playing the opponent earlier in the week. The Bulls will bounce back and get a nice revenge game against the 76ers. Bulls by 7
Betting trends
The 76ers are 26-12 ATS the past three season after playing a game following a six-game in 10-day stretch.
The 76ers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 following a five-game stretch of making 47 percent of their shots or better.
The Bulls are 9-13 ATS in their past 22 when favored at home by six points or less.
The Bulls are 23-6 ATS the past three seasons following a loss by six points or less.
Projected starting lineup
76ers:
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Danny Green
PF: Georges Niang
C: Joel Embiid
SF: Danny Green
PF: Georges Niang
C: Joel Embiid
Bulls:
PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Zach LaVine
SF: Javonte Green
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
SF: Javonte Green
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
Key injuries
76ers: PF Tobias Harris (COVID, out), SG Danny Green (hamstring, questionable), SG Furkan Korkmaz (wrist, day-to-day), PG Ben Simmons (personal, out)
Bulls: PG Coby White (shoulder, out)
Statistical leaders
76ers:
Points: Joel Embiid -- 20.4
Rebounds: Andre Drummond -- 9.4
Assists: Tyrese Maxey -- 4.3
Blocks: Matisse Thybulle -- 1.7
Steals: Matisse Thybulle -- 2.3
Bulls:
Points: DeMar DeRozan -- 27.0
Rebounds: Nikola Vucevic -- 10.8
Assists: Nikola Vucevic -- 4.5
Blocks: Lonzo Ball -- 1.1
Steals: Alex Caruso -- 2.5
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
