The New York Knicks (13-14) will be at home when they play the Chicago Bulls (15-9). Action begins at 7:30 pm ET on Saturday, Dec. 19 and can be seen on WGN and MSG.
The Knicks enter this game hoping for similar success after topping the 76ers 107-97 on Friday. Arron Afflalo was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting. The Bulls, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their close 147-144 loss against the Pistons on Friday. Jimmy Butler led the game in scoring with 43 points.
Pau Gasol has upped his play for the Bulls, averaging 19.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 0.6 three-pointers over the past five games.
The Knicks defense could make it difficult on Chicago’s shooters. They rank fifth in the NBA in forcing misses (opponents’ effective field goal percentage of 46.9%), while the Chicago offense is 28th with a mark of 46.9%. Furthermore, the defense of the Bulls should have an advantage in terms of effective field goal percentage. They’re first in the league in forcing misses (opponents’ effective field goal percentage of 45.3%), while the offense of the Knicks ranks 26th in effective field goal percentage (47.2%).
The Bulls are a slim two-point favorite over New York. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently 196 points. The Knicks have gone 13-14 Straight Up (SU) and 16-11 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 7-9 SU and 10-6 ATS against the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are one of the best in the NBA in terms of free throw percentage, shooting an impressive .804 from the free throw line. New York’s three-point defense can be considered one of the best in the league, allowing just 6.0 three-pointers per game.
Over on the other bench, the Bulls are unsuccessful ATS with a 9-15 record even though they have a 15-9 SU record. Against the Eastern Conference, Chicago is 7-6 SU and 3-10 ATS. The Bulls have controlled the glass with an NBA-best 49.2 rebounds per game. Shifting to the other side of the court, the Bulls have the best opponent field-goal percentage in the league at .413. One advantage for the Bulls could be New York’s high fouls per game average of 22.7.
This game marks the season’s first head-to-head clash between the conference foes. Their previous game was a Bulls victory, bumping their SU record over the last 10 meetings to 8-2. Furthermore, the Bulls hold the advantage ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – Chi, ATS Winner – NY, O/U – Under
Notes
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New York’s last 8 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York’s last 5 games at home.
New York is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games at home.
New York is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing Chicago.
New York is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Chicago.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York’s last 5 games when playing Chicago.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York’s last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago.
Chicago ranks 18th in points per game with 100.7, while New York ranks 10th in points allowed with an average of 99.3 given up.
Chicago scores an average of 100.8 points per away game (ranked 12th), while New York gives up 97.5 points per home game (ranked 10th).
New York is a split 8-8 in contests where it allows fewer than 100 points. Chicago is a winning 9-5 when it puts up less than 100.
The New York Knicks have a 5-6 record when their opponents score at least 100 points. The Chicago Bulls have a 6-4 record when they register triple digits.
The Knicks have an offensive rating of 101.1 (ranked 21st). The Bulls rank second for their defensive rating of 97.6.
The Chicago Bulls average 101.6 possessions per game and .991 points per possession. The New York Knicks earn fewer possessions with 97.0, but they score more points with 1.011.
New York has an average effective field goal percentage of 47.2%. Chicago is 3-4 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
New York averages 22.0 three point attempts per game, and Chicago attempts 22.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Knicks have a poor 3-6 record while the Bulls have a 3-4 record.
New York has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.50 this season (ranked 15th). Chicago ranks higher with an A/TO of 1.64 (ranked sixth).
Chicago is the best rebounding team in the NBA this season with 49.2 per game. On the other side, New York is in the top half of the league, ranking 12th with 44.4 per game.
New York is ranked 13th in defensive rebounds, while Chicago ranks 12th in offensive rebounds.
New York averages a forced turnover rate of 12.0% this season. Chicago has a 10-7 record when they suffer a turnover rate equal to or exceeding this.
