Spurs vs. Bulls, Nets vs. Clippers Betting Odds
Carrie Stroup here with your Spurs vs. Bulls and Nets vs. Clippers betting odds for January 22. Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet FREE here at Sportsbook.ag.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (27-16) at CHICAGO BULLS (27-16)
Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: San Antonio -6, Total: 198.5
The San Antonio Spurs look to extend their four-game winning streak against a struggling Chicago Bulls team Thursday night.
San Antonio was having its issues this year with injuries and rest, but has turned things around by winning six of theri past seven contests; including each of the past four by an average of 12.3 PPG. The Spurs are 5-1-1 ATS in that time thanks to a tough defense that held three of those opponents to below 40% FG. They really went off against the Nuggets on Tuesday with a 109-99 victory as 9-point favorites on the road, as they made 11-of-27 three-pointers (41%) and had six different players score in double figures.
The Bulls have high expectations for this season and despite having plenty of talent on their club both offensively and defensively, they have gone just 2-6 (SU and ATS) over their past eight games. Their offense has not showed up in most of those losses, as they made fewer than 40% of their field-goal attempts four times, and have now done so seven times in the past 13 games. Chicago performed poorly once again when it faced the Cavaliers in a marquee matchup on Monday night, as Cleveland steamrolled the 4.5-point underdog Bulls by a score of 108-94. The offense made a mere 30-of-80 shots (37.5% FG) in the defeat, and were out-rebounded 54-40.
San Antonio has not performed too well when playing on the road at 12-10 (both SU and ATS), while Chicago has an identical 12-10 SU mark, but horrible 7-15 ATS record, in front of its fans. It has been all Spurs in this matchup since the start of the 2012-13 campaign, as they are 3-1 (both SU and ATS) and have won both their games when playing on the road. They last met in Chicago on March 11th when San Antonio won 104-96 and made 50.6% FG in the process; including 12-of-21 three-pointers (57%).
Trends show that the Bulls are a putrid 0-10 ATS after five straight games committing 14 or less turnovers in the past two seasons, but they have also gone 69-44 ATS (61%) after two straight games where they had five or less steals since 1996. The injury report shows that SG Marco Belinelli (groin) will miss this one for the Spurs while SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle) is questionable and C Joakim Noah (ankle) is doubtful to play for Chicago.
The Spurs continue to be a solid offensive unit as they are putting up 102.0 PPG (11th in league) on 46.1% shooting (9th in NBA) while dishing out 24.6 APG (6th in league). Their defense has also done well, giving up 97.6 PPG (8th in league) behind 44.2% shooting (also 8th in NBA).
PF Tim Duncan (14.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.0 BPG) remains an elite player at the age of 38 and has a double-double in three of the past five games. He did not perform well in the two games against Chicago last season, averaging 10.5 PPG (39% FG), 10.5 RPG and 1.0 SPG.
SF Kawhi Leonard (15.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG) is coming off a huge performance against Denver (17 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) and has produced 16.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 2.3 SPG in the three games since returning from a 15-game absence due to injury. Leonard faced the Bulls just once last season and had a solid performance with 16 points and nine rebounds) in 29 minutes.
PG Tony Parker (14.7 PPG, 4.8 SPG) had an efficient outing against the Nuggets on Tuesday, scoring 18 points on 8-for-16 FG, while adding seven assists and four rebounds. He had some great games against Chicago over two meetings last season, scoring 20.0 PPG (50% FG) to go along with 7.5 APG.
The Bulls offense has improved by leaps and bounds this season, as they are netting 102.1 PPG (10th in league) on 44.5% shooting as a team. It seems that as their offensive game improves, their top defense from last season gets worse, as they have allowed a sub-par 99.7 PPG with the opposition connecting on only 44.3% of their attempts.
SG Jimmy Butler (20.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG) continues to prove that he is morphing into one of the best players in the NBA, but has made fewer than 39% of his shots in three of his past five games. He had some of his best contests last season when facing San Antonio with 21.0 PPG (56% FG) to go along with 5.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.0 BPG.
PF Pau Gasol (18.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.1 BPG) has posted a double-double in 8-of-11 January games and is averaging some big numbers in that time (21.6 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.3 BPG). He met with this Spurs team three times last season as a member of the Lakers, and averaged 20.0 PPG (47% FG), 10.7 RPG and 3.3 BPG.
PG Derrick Rose (18.0 PPG, 5.1 APG) has been more aggressive of late and has scored 24.0 PPG over his past five games, as he averaged just over 18 attempts per game. He has started against San Antonio seven times over his injury-riddled career, and he scored 23.7 PPG (50% FG) and added 6.1 APG in those contests.
BROOKLYN NETS (18-24) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (28-14)
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Tip-off: Thursday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Los Angeles -12, Total: 200.5
The Clippers look to win a third straight game when they host the Nets on Thursday night.
Brooklyn went into Sacramento on Wednesday night and won 103-100 as a 5.5-point road underdog. After not scoring 100+ points during a seven-game stretch from Jan. 4 to Jan. 14, the Nets have reached the century mark twice in the past three games. They have won-and-covered in each of those contests, and will need to continue to be as successful offensively, as their 95.7 PPG (23rd in NBA) is not going to cut it going forward.
The Clippers have now won two straight, and eight of their past 11 contests after a 102-93 victory versus Boston on Monday. Los Angeles was favored by 12 in that game and has now failed to cover the spread in three straight contests. The club averages 106.7 PPG (4th in NBA), so if the Nets aren’t making their shots then they could be in serious trouble.
These two teams haven’t played since December 12, 2013, when Brooklyn beat the Clippers 102-93 as a 1-point home underdog. In the past five meetings between these two teams, the Nets are 3-2 SU and 5-0 ATS. Although L.A. has won three straight home meetings SU, Brooklyn is 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings overall, including 3-1 ATS at Staples Center. The Clippers won’t be too worried about that, as they are 82-57 ATS at home in January since 1996, but the Nets are 9-0 ATS in road games after playing three straight games as an underdog over the past three seasons. The only significant injury for either team is Brooklyn PG Deron Williams (ribs), who is listed as questionable, but is not expected to play.
The Nets have won two of their past three games and PG Jarrett Jack (11.5 PPG, 4.5 APG) has been excellent while filling in as the team’s starting point guard for injured PG Deron Williams (13.9 PPG, 6.3 APG). Jack had 16 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals in a win over the Kings on Wednesday, and is averaging 17.4 PPG, 7.0 APG and 1.0 SPG in 37.4 MPG over the past five contests. Brooklyn needs Jack to be on top of his game in this one, as he’ll need to hold his own against Chris Paul on both ends of the floor.
SG Joe Johnson (15.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG) will have a huge advantage over whomever is guarding him on Thursday. The Clippers don’t have anybody near Johnson’s size (6-foot-7, 240 pounds), so the Nets will look to him in the high post often. Johnson is averaging 15.5 PPG in his past two games, and should be able to light up his defenders in this one.
C Brook Lopez (15.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG) has been playing extremely well since his name started to float in a number of trade rumors just about a week ago. The big man had 22 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the win over the Kings, and is now averaging 21.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.7 BPG over the past three contests. Lopez will need to be active on the glass in this game or DeAndre Jordan will give his team too many second chances for the Nets to pull off a road upset.
PF Mason Plumlee (10.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.0 BPG) must remain disciplined in this game. Plumlee was in foul trouble against the Kings and was limited to just 11 minutes of action. He gives the Nets their best chance to stay close in the rebounding battle, but he will need to stay on the floor.
The Clippers have won two straight games and PF Blake Griffin (23.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.0 APG) is starting to look like the guy he was a season ago. Griffin had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a victory over the Celtics on Monday and he’s now averaging 26.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG and 4.2 APG over the past five contests. As long as he is operating around the basket more often, this team will be extremely tough to beat. If Griffin is content just floating around the elbows and taking jump shots, the Nets should be able to stay in this game.
PG Chris Paul (17.6 PPG, 9.6 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG) had just nine points, six assists and six rebounds against the Celtics on Monday. Paul is averaging only 12.0 PPG over the past three games, but he is still dishing out 9.7 APG during that span. Los Angeles has been winning, but the team does need Paul to break out of his recent shooting slump (36% FG, 30% threes in past five games). When he is scoring the basketball, everything seems to open up for this offense. Paul should be able to get back on track against the Nets, as his speed will be a big problem for Jarrett Jack.
C DeAndre Jordan (10.0 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG) had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in the win over the Celtics. His activity on the glass and around the basket will be a big problem for a much slower Brook Lopez and the wild Mason Plumlee. SG Jamal Crawford (15.7 PPG) is averaging 16.8 PPG over the past four games, and should be able to provide this team with a big spark off the bench. With the Nets dealing with a number of injuries, Crawford will be able to control the tempo against Brooklyn’s depleted second unit.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
