Chicago (15-27) at Philadelphia (26-16)
When: Friday, January 17th, 2020
Where: Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -7.5/216.5
We are already into the middle of January and two Eastern Conference foes the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are playing each other for the first time this season. They meet Friday night at Wells Fargo Center with the 76ers looking for someone to step up with the abscence of star center Joel Embiid on the sidelines. Philly is just 2-2 in the four games he has missed since the hand surgery and will be out a few more weeks. Tobias Harris stepped up with nine of his 34 points in the final 2:20 on Wednesday to help Philadelphia hold off the Brooklyn Nets in a 117-106 victory and finished 14-of-20 from the floor while adding 10 rebounds. The Bulls, who are one of the more disappointing teams in the league, are winners of two of three but had two more players go down in a 115-106 victory over Washington on Wednesday. Rookie forward Daniel Gafford dislocated his thumb and is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks while forward Chandler Hutchinson (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter and is day-to-day. Injuries to the likes of Otto Porter Wendell Carter Jr., and regression from Lauri Markkanen haven’t helped matters. The 76ers won the season series 3-1 last year and Embiid averaged 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in two of them. Ben Simmons put up 15.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists for the Sixers, while Chicago’s Zach LaVine averaged 34.5 points in the two he played. The Sixers are 4-2 against the spread in the past six meetings and the over is 13-5 in the past 18 in this series.
LaVine had 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win over lowly Washington on Wednesday and said he wants to be in the Dunk Contest at the All-Star Game next month. The NBA figures to invite LaVine since the All-Star festivities are in Chicago and he’s won the contest twice before while with the Minnesota Timberwolves. There’s a chance LaVine is selected for the actual game as he’s averaging a team-best 24.6 points and has 23 games of at least 25 points this season, third in the Eastern Conference. LaVine also has at least 30 points in four of the last five contests. The Bulls got a strong performance on Wednesday from veteran forward Thaddeus Young, who scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting including 3-of-3 from 3-point land. The Bulls will be home to Cleveland on Saturday.
The Sixers have been inconsistent of late, winning at home and losing on the road. Philly improved to 19-2 at home with the win over Brooklyn and outscored the Nets 31-16 in the fourth quarter. Al Horford contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists and has been involved in some trade rumors as the Sixers are in need of perimeter help. Philadelphia dropped to 7-14 on the road with a loss at Indiana on Monday and will play seven of its next 10 on the road after Friday. Simmons recorded 20 points and 11 assists for his third consecutive double-double and is averaging 39.5 minutes in six games this month, including 40 or more in each of the last two. Philly will be in New York on Saturday.
The Sixers don’t have Embiid, but the Bulls are hurting and struggling and will have a hard time keeping this one close. Chicago is just 7-13 away from home and just 12-16-1 ATS on one day rest. I think Philadelphia rolls in this one.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Friday. He is 46-36-3 (56%) on the season!
Pick: 76ers -7.5
Bulls are 11-27 ATS in their last 38 games following a straight up win.
Bulls are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Bulls are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Bulls are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Bulls are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Bulls are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Bulls are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulls are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
76ers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
76ers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
76ers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Over is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 20-7 in Bulls last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 5-2 in Bulls last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 7-3 in Bulls last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 6-0 in 76ers last 6 games as a home favorite.
Over is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 7-1 in 76ers last 8 home games.
Over is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 12-5-1 in 76ers last 18 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 11-5-1 in 76ers last 17 games following a straight up win.
Over is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings.
Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Philadelphia.
