Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls betting tips and predictions for Monday’s NBA game. The Charlotte Hornets visit the United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Charlotte Hornets
Everything was going well for the Charlotte Hornets until they travelled to Houston to face the Rockets on Saturday. Prior to that game they were on a streak of 8 wins in 9 games, but then they were outplayed by the worst team in the NBA and lost 146-143 in OT. A total of 4 Hornets players scored 20+ points in the loss and as a team the Hornets shot 20-for-50 from three-point land, but defensively they allowed the Rockets to shoot 53% and drain 23 of 49 shot from downtown. Performances like that should be unacceptable for a team that is trying to finish in one of the top 4 spots in the Eastern Conference. They look to bounce back tonight vs a team they’ve beaten just twice in their last 6 meetings. Once again they’ll be without the services of Miles Plumlee who will miss this one with a calf injury.
Chicago Bulls
Coincidentally the Bulls are also a team that’s lost to the Houston Rockets not too long ago, they were able to bounce back with a win at Orlando, but followed that up with a 107-104 home loss to Miami. Despite the loss though, they still occupy 4th place in the Eastern Conference and are off to their best start to a season in decades. DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso both had 20+ points in the loss, the Bulls turned the ball over 22 times and it cost them the game in the end. With a positive home record of 6-4 this season they enter this one as the favorite. They’ve beaten the Hornets in 3 games straight, outscoring them by an average of 17 points in those 3 games. One more stat worth pointing out here is Chicago’s run of 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games when playing as the favorite.
Losing to the Rockets is never a good look for any team, especially if you are in the top echelon in your conference. This Hornets team is far better at home than on the road this season, they’ve covered the spread just 5 times in 13 road games. Playing at the United Center is never easy and I expect that to be a challenge tonight as well. Give me the Bulls to cover.
Chicago Bulls – Charlotte Hornets Odds
Chicago Bulls – Charlotte Hornets Predictions
Chicago -5.5 Point Spread is available at -110 odds on bet365
I’m having a hard time trusting the Hornets defense, they are coming off a game in which they allowed 146 points against the worst team in the NBA. Defending the perimeter is a big weakness of this team, the Rockets proved that by making 23 threes in that game. In the game prior to that they also allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to score 115 against them at home. This team has only the 24th best defensive rating in the NBA. The Bulls are much better than that ranking 5th and at home they are holding opponents to just 103.2 points per game this season. Charlotte is averaging 127.3 points over their last 3 games, however the played the Rockets, Timberwolves and Magic during that stretch. Scoring against the Bulls will be a different challenge, in the last 3 meetings they are averaging just 100 points per game and shooting 44% from the field. I expect the Bulls to put the clamps on them and win this one. Let’s back the under.
Under 225.5 Total Points is available at -110 odds on bet365
