Wizards vs. Bulls Betting Line
Carrie Stroup here with your Wizards vs. Bulls betting line courtesy of Sportsbook.ag.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (34-26) at CHICAGO BULLS (37-23)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington -1.5, Total: 186.5
The Wizards will be going for their second straight victory when they head to Chicago on Tuesday and face a Bulls team that is depleted by injuries.
The Wizards hosted the Pistons on Saturday and won 99-95 as 5-point favorites. Washington had lost six straight games heading into that one and the team is now 0-5-1 ATS in its past six games. The Wizards are really struggling offensively, scoring less than 100 points in seven of their past eight contests.
Chicago lost 96-86 as 2-point home underdogs against the Clippers on Sunday. Chicago is also struggling to put up points, averaging just 88.8 PPG over its past four games. That's not a good number, especially when they are allowing just 88.5 PPG in those contests. The team has not found its defensive identity all year but perhaps their recent injuries will force the players to clamp down and win some ugly games.
Chicago won-and-covered in Washington in the first meeting between these teams on the season, but the Wizards have won-and-covered in two straight against the Bulls since then. Washington has won its past five games at United Center SU and the team has also covered in seven straight games in Chicago as well.
The Wizards are 2-8 ATS after a win by six points or less this season, while the Bulls are 9-4 ATS when revenging a loss where an opponent scored 100 or more points in their previous meeting this season. PF Kris Humphries (Groin) is questionable for the Wizards and SG Jimmy Butler (Elbow), PG Derrick Rose (Knee) and PF Taj Gibson (Ankle) are all out indefinitely for the Bulls.
The Wizards finally got back into the win column with a victory over the Pistons on Saturday and PG John Wall (17.2 PPG, 10.1 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG) came up big in that one. He played 38 minutes and finished with 22 points (8-for-14 FG), six assists and two steals. Wall should be able to tear up Chicago, as the team is now weak at the point guard position with PG Derrick Rose (18.4 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.1 RPG) rehabbing his knee. Wall is averaging 18.3 PPG and 10.0 APG in three meetings with the Bulls this season and he’ll need to attack the basket for some easy buckets right from the opening tip.
SF Paul Pierce (12.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG) will also be a big weapon for the Wizards in this game. Pierce had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in his return from a knee injury on Saturday. He is averaging 13.7 PPG and 5.0 RPG against Chicago this season and should be in for a much bigger performance with the Bulls being without SG Jimmy Butler (20.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG). Butler is one of the better on-ball defenders in the NBA and usually checks the opposing team’s small forward. Pierce should be able to post up whomever else Chicago throws at him and he’s always a threat to knock down his outside shots as well (38% 3PT).
C Marcin Gortat (11.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG) had 16 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and a block against the Pistons last game. He’s been a monster on the glass, grabbing 10+ rebounds in each of his past five games. Gortat is averaging 15.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 2.0 BPG against the Bulls this season and will need to keep up that solid play on offense against a talented Bulls frontcourt.
SG Bradley Beal (14.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG) had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in his return from a stress reaction in his leg on Saturday. Beal is averaging 16.3 PPG in three meetings with the Bulls this season and he will need to knock down his outside shots as he is the Wizards’ best shooter from deep (43% 3PT).
The Bulls are going to need some guys to really step their games up with PG Derrick Rose and SG Jimmy Butler out for the next few weeks. PG Aaron Brooks (10.6 PPG, 2.8 APG) is the one who will be taking over Rose’s duty as the primary ball-handler. Brooks had 14 points and three assists in 31 minutes in the loss to Los Angeles. He is not as good of a passer as Rose is, but he can put up points in a hurry. Brooks is a lethal outside shooter (42% 3PT) and will use that to continue his success against the Wizards this season (12.3 PPG, 3.7 APG in 22.0 MPG).
SF Tony Snell (5.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG) will likely take a big portion of Butler’s minutes on the wing. Snell had 13 points (3-for-7 FG, 3-for-5 3PT, 4-for-4 FT) and seven boards in 33 minutes against the Clippers. He is a good perimeter defender and can really knock down shots from the outside (40% 3PT). He’ll look to put up his fifth straight game with 10+ points when he faces Washington Tuesday.
PF Nikola Mirotic (7.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG) is one more player who will be asked to bring his game to another level with Butler out. Mirotic prefers to play the power forward position, but he’ll see some time at both power forward and small forward with the injuries to Butler and PF Taj Gibson (10.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG). Mirotic had 29 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes against the Clippers last game. He is a very good shooter (34% 3PT) for a guy that is 6-foot-10 and he will need to use his size to make Paul Pierce uncomfortable when the Wizards’ veteran is guarding him.
C Joakim Noah (7.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 BPG) is one of the best passing big men in basketball and he will run the offense a lot with Rose out. Noah has had 6+ assists in each of his past three games and that is a trend that is likely to continue until Rose is healthy.
PF Pau Gasol (18.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 BPG) had just four points (2-for-13 FG) in his return from an illness against Los Angeles last game. He did, however, have 15 boards and four assists and should shoot better as he gets healthier. This will be a physical game inside, so the Bulls need Gasol to play tough on both.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
