Pro Basketball Predictions: Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets

Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets
Thursday, 2/7/13, 10:30 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Denver -5
Current Betting Line: Denver -6
Opening Total: 197
Current Total: 196.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Denver Nuggets have won 11 of their last 12 home games versus the Chicago Bulls

Chicago has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it comes off a 111-101 defeat to the Indiana Pacers as 5.5-point road underdogs Monday night, while going OVER the total for the third time in four contests. The Bulls have struggled recently on the defensive end due to numerous players being out with injuries, which includes allowing the Pacers to shoot 52.7 percent from the field. “I feel like we’re short-handed right now,” stated Bulls center Joakim Noah, who is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Chicago is 3-2 ATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points this season, with the OVER going 4-1 in that situation.

The Bulls are 14-8 away from the United Center this year, including a 1-4 mark versus Western Conference foes. Chicago has dropped four of the last five meetings in this series, while it has gone 10-29 all-time versus Denver in the Mile High City. Forward Luol Deng will need to get over his recent shooting woes, as he’s knocked down just 34.7 percent of his shots in the last four games. Deng has averaged 19.2 points in his last six meetings versus the Nuggets.

Denver has won seven games in a row, including a 112-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks as seven-point home favorites last time out, while going OVER the total in the last five contests. “We picked up our defense and that made us play better,” stated Nuggets leading scorer Danilo Gallinari about the team’s recent run. He has scored 20-plus points in eight of his last 15 games. The Nuggets are 21-3 at the Pepsi Center this year, including a 6-2 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Denver is 12-16 ATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread Thursday night.

The Nuggets have won five straight and 11 of their last 12 home games versus the Bulls—a run that dates back to the 1999-2000 campaign. Denver leads the league with 19.3 fast-break points per game, which has been even higher at 26.4 over the last seven contests.