San Antonio Spurs vs. Chicago Bulls: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/6/2023

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL

Where to watch: NBCSCH, ATTSN-SW

DraftKings: Bulls -10.5

FanDuel: Bulls -11

BetMGM: Bulls -10.5

Caesars: Bulls -10.5

Spurs: 14-39

Bulls: 25-27

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Spurs: lost 137-125 vs. 76ers

Bulls: won 129-121 vs. Blazers

In order for the San Antonio Spurs to start winning games, they’re really going to need to outscore the opponent by an unfathomable margin. But the problem is the defense for the Spurs is about as horrid as can be. And the fact they’re taking on the Chicago Bulls in this game at United Center on Monday.

 

Funny thing is, if you think about how the Spurs won the first meeting back on Oct. 28, the Spurs scored 129 points and won by five. Yes, they scored a whole bunch of points and won. Nowadays, if the Spurs scored 129 points, they might lose. They scored 125 in their last game against the Philadelphia 76ers and gave up 137. And that was to a star-studded team in the 76ers. Imagine what DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine can do.

 

Malaki Branham scored a team-high 26 points on 11 of 16 shooting, and Keldon Johnson had 18 rebounds to pace a Spurs team that shot 58.4 percent from the floor. Jakob Poeltl, who might be playing his last few days as a Spur before he gets traded next week, posted 16 points and 10 rebounds while the Spurs shot 58.4 percent from the floor.

 

“A couple of us older guys on the bench were happy for them when they brought it back all the way to like 10 or nine points,” Poeltl said. “Made them bring their starters back in. It was fun to watch them out there just playing free, playing aggressive.”

 

The Spurs haven’t had a healthy lineup in a long minute. Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones weren’t in the lineup, nor was reserve guard and instant offense Romeo Langford. It’s already a problem that Johnson has to carry the load, but they just don’t have enough in the tank to keep things going.

 

But trying to figure out how to slow down the Bulls right now isn’t going to be an easy thing to compete with. Chicago has started to get on a small roll as of late with three wins in four games and the latest being a 129-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back. Chicago had to rally when down in the first half and had to deal with ANOTHER 40-piece from Damian Lillard, but LaVine had 36 points on 11 of 18, and DeRozan had 27 points to help pace the Chicago offense. Don’t forget Nikola Vucevic and his 23 points and 11 rebounds.

 

“We were able to get in transition, get some easy baskets,” LaVine said. “Then when they started doubling, it was just picking it out where the rotation was.”

 

The Spurs are already a bad team on the road, but the fact they haven’t won in many days doesn’t bode well for their immediate future. The Bulls are playing well, and while they might need to make another move prior to the trade deadline to ensure something goes down, I would really caution to look at the Bulls and how they play this game. Bulls 129, Spurs 120

Spurs are 9-14 ATS as a road underdog this season.

Spurs are 13-4 ATS following a non-conference game this season.

Spurs are 6-18 ATS after allowing 135 points or more since 1996.

Bulls are 49-27 ATS after a non-conference game the last 3 seasons.

Bulls are 10-3 ATS off a home win this season.

PG: Malaki Branham

SG: Josh Richardson

SF: Keldon Johnson

PF: Keita Bates-Diop

C: Jakob Poeltl

PG: Ayo Dosunmu

SG: Zach LaVine

SF: DeMar DeRozan

PF: Patrick Williams

C: Nikola Vucevic

Injury report

Spurs: Romeo Langford (hip, out), Tre Jones (foot, questionable), Jeremy Sochan (out), Devin Vassell (knee, out)

Bulls: Lonzo Ball (knee, out)

Points: Keldon Johnson -- 21.8

Rebounds: Jakob Poeltl -- 9.1

Assists: Tre Jones -- 6.3

Points: DeMar DeRozan -- 26.0

Rebounds: Nikola Vucevic -- 11.2

Assists: DeMar DeRozan -- 5.0