Chicago Bulls vs San Antonio Spurs Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 21/12/2023, 06:45  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The San Antonio Spurs will head to the United Center to face off against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA on Thursday. The hosts are 4-22 and bottom of the Western Conference, while the visitors are 12-17 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. 

The San Antonio Spurs lost 132-119 to Milwaukee in their last game on Tuesday night, with Keldon Johnson scoring the most points for the team at 28. Victor Wembanyama couldn't play due to an ankle injury, preventing his first appearance against Antetokounmpo and co. That defeat marked the Spurs' ninth consecutive loss on the road this season, and they have now lost two in a row and 21 out of their last 22 games. The team's average points per game is 110.9, ranking 25th in the NBA, and it's 2.2 points less than what Chicago allows on average this season. The Spurs' biggest struggles have been in defense, ranking 27th in the league by giving up an average of 122.5 points per game. Bassey is out for the year due to a knee injury, and Wembanyama is uncertain for the upcoming match due to his ankle injury.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls had a home game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, making it their third game in four nights and the second game of a back-to-back situation. They secured a 124-108 victory over the Lakers, with DeMar DeRozan leading the team with 27 points. That win followed an upset victory against the 76ers, breaking their six-game winning streak with a score of 108-104. Across the season, Chicago ranks 27th in the league in scoring offense, averaging 109.9 points per game, which is 13 points less than what San Antonio allows on average. On the defensive side, the Bulls have performed better, holding the 13th rank by allowing an average of 113.3 points per game. Unfortunately, the Bulls are facing some injury challenges, with Lonzo Ball ruled out for the remainder of the season, Zach Lavine out until January, and Torrey Craig expected to return in February.