NBA - Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Preview
Things are looking rosy for the Chicago Bulls. The Eastern Conference team became the first team in the NBA to secure a coveted playoff spot by racking up their 40th win of the season, with the narrowest of wins against the Toronto Raptors (102-101) on Sunday. But a win is a win and a playoff spot is theirs.
Denver Nuggets Chicago Bulls Preview
As such, coming into tonight's game against the Denver Nuggets at the United Center, expect the Chicago Bulls to be brimming with well-deserved confidence. The team from Chicago has been playing up a storm of late, despite being without the services of uber talented point guard and MVP, Derrick Rose, and why they will start as the betting favorites.
Tonight Rose will sit out for the seventh consecutive game with the same annoying groin injury. However, his teammates seem to have barely noticed, having gone 12-4 without his services. This achievement bears testimony to the overall strength of the Bulls, who have managed to excel despite the absence of their star player.
This is just as well, because according to reports, Rose may still be out for some time. And as even more proof that the Bulls are playing like a well-oiled machine, on Sunday they had to make do without the talents of forward Joakim Noah for half the game, who stupidly got himself booted out in the second quarter for throwing the ball at an official.
Bulls will Have Nuggets Shaking in their Booties
In the end, Carlos Boozer chalked up 24 points with 10 rebounds, while Deng and C.J. Watson (Rose's replacement) each ended on 23 points. This high level of play from the Bulls will no doubt have the Nuggets shaking in their booties, as they'll have to contend with an unfriendly Bulls home crowd and the fact they've lost the first two games of their seven-game road trip.
Denver (26-23) are tied with Utah and Houston for seventh place in the Western Conference, after losing 117-100 on Sunday against Minnesota on Sunday. Before that, they lost 121-102 at Utah. Not only must the Nuggets contemplate their current lack-luster form, but also the fact they're allowing an average of 104.6 points per game on the road - currently the worst in the NBA.
In fact, the team has allowed over 120 points three times in road games this season. That said, the silver lining is that Denver are the NBA's highest scoring team with an average of 103.7 points this season. The only problem is that Chicago rank second in the NBA in defense, giving up an average of just 88.7 points per game.
Chicago Bulls will Start as Betting Favorites
Thus, it is difficult to see how the Denver Nuggets will make any headway whatsoever against the Chicago Bulls tonight, and the betting odds showing the Chicago Bulls as the betting favorites reflect this. Visit Bodog online sportsbook now for the latest Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls odds, and all other NBA games scheduled for this evening.
