Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Nov. 8, 2021

Eytan Shander
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Bulls are hoping their latest two-game skid is more of a fluke than reality, but the Nets come off an impressive win Sunday in Toronto. The two teams will tip Monday night 8:00 p.m. ET in Chicago on NBATV.

Score Prediction

Nets 128, Bulls 120

Best Bets

Nets +1.5

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Predictions

Brooklyn is on the second leg of a back-to-back after handling the Raptors on Sunday. The Nets are on fire, as that was their fifth straight win, and their defense was the story. The offense is coming from the – now – “Big 2” in Kevin Durant and James Harden.

They are going to be a problem for this Chicago team that’s coming off two straight losses to the undermanned Sixers. What’s most frustrating for the Bulls is they played well despite losing and can’t afford to have any lapses on defense against the Nets.

Harden is as dangerous as facilitator as he is a scorer – new rules or ball aside – and is getting the volume to come out of any early slumps. The Nets have a rotating cast who can help supplement offense and will pull away in a higher-scoring game.

All three of Chicago’s scoring stars played well despite losing two straight games to a significantly undermanned Sixers team. Zach LaVine had 32, DeMar DeRozan had 25, and Lonzo Ball added 13-5-5. But the Bulls still lost – for the second straight time – to a Sixers team without Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and Ben Simmons.

The Nets have some size up front to take advantage of how small Chicago runs. Nikola Vucevic provides some size, but Brooklyn has more bodies to control the boards – plus they have better rebounding guards.

The Nets defense has been stellar over their five-game win streak. The Bulls aren’t that deep and will need to compete from behind the arc to keep it close. Both teams are top heavy, but only one boasts two of the game’s top 10 players. Brooklyn hasn’t allowed more than 108 points in their win streak – only allowing 100 points twice.

Meanwhile their offense is clicking, scoring at least 100 in four of five – including 116+ in three of those games. The Bulls have some firepower and will push the ball. Expect Brooklyn to be more than happy to keep up with that tempo.

It’s been a shaky stretch over the same period for the Bulls, as they’ve dropped three of five. After winning two straight games, a glimpse of hope returned that Chicago was going to start an early lead atop the Central Division. But two straight losses have the Bulls rethinking their depth – especially upfront.

The Bulls just aren’t scoring enough points – 17 th overall, but they’ve managed to establish a top-8 defense. Chicago will throw everything they can at Durant and Harden, only to have Blake Griffin or Patty Mills kill them for 20.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

• Nets +105
• Bulls -125
• Nets +1.5 (-110)
• Bulls -1.5 (-110)
• Over 215 (-110)
• Under 215 (-110)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Resources

• Matchup: Atlantic vs. Central
• Date: Monday, November 8, 2021
• Venue: United Center
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• TV-Time: NBATV - 8:00 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-3
• ATS: 5-5
• O/U: 2-8

Durant leads the way with 28.3 PPG shooting 57% from the floor. He’s also averaging 8.8 RPG and 5.2 APG. Harden leads the team with 9 APG, adding 7.4 RPG and scoring 17.7 PPG.

LaMarcus Aldridge comes off the bench putting up 12.8 PPG, ahead of Joe Harris at 11.3 PPG and Mills at 10.3 PPG. Griffin averages 5.1 RPG, just ahead of Aldridge and his 4.9 RPG.

Chicago Bulls Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-3
• ATS: 6-3
• O/U: 4-5

DeRozan and LaVine are each averaging just over 26 PPG for the Bulls. DeRozan is shooting 50.3% while LaVine is at 47.2 – he’s also at 34% from 3 on 62 attempts. Nik Vucevic averages 13.4 PPG, ahead of Lonzo Ball’s 11.9.

Vucevic leads the team with 10.8 RPG, as no other Bulls player averages 6 or more RPG. Ball is one of four Bulls players to average 4 APG – 4.6 to Vuc and LaVine at 4.2. Alex Caruso adds 4.1 coming off the bench.

The Chicago Bulls have seen the underdogs cover the spread in three of their last four games. (AP)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Head-to-Head

The first matchup between these two teams will be Monday night in Chicago. The Bulls come off a loss on Saturday to the Sixers, while the Nets won their fifth straight – Sunday night in Toronto.

Key Players to Watch

• BKN: Kevin Durant - PF (28.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 5.2 apg)
• BKN: James Harden - SG (17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 9 apg)
• CHI: DeMar DeRozan - SG (26.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.7 apg)
• CHI: Zach LaVine - SG (26.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.2 apg)

Injuries

• BKN: Nic Claxton - PF (Out)
• BKN: James Johnson - PF (DTD)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Conclusion

It’s early but some of the obvious betting trends would nudge towards the Bulls. But Chicago is in a funk right now where their main guys are still playing well on offense. It’s deflating for a team to come out and do what works but still lose.

Meanwhile Brooklyn is moving the ball up and down the floor, counter to their earlier season struggles to score. This is more a matter of catching the Bulls on a bad matchup during a mini-slide, and knowing the Nets are starting to see more of an uptick out of Harden.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

• Chicago has seen the underdog cover the spread in three of its last four games.
• Brooklyn has gone UNDER the point total in eight of its last 10 games.
• Brooklyn has won five straight games.

VegasInsider Staff

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