Chicago (4-7) at Milwaukee (7-3)
When: Thursday, November 14th, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: FS Wisconsin
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -11/226.5
The Chicago Bulls are in the middle of a favorable stretch in which they play six of seven games at home, but the one road game takes place Thursday against the mighty Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago started the stretch by getting routed 117-94 at home to the Houston Rockets before rebounding for a 120-102 romp over the New York Knicks last time out. Bulls rookie guard Cody White drained seven 3-pointers – all in the fourth quarter – en route to a season-high 27 points in the victory on Tuesday and finished 7-of-11 from beyond the arc after going a combined 3-of-26 over the previous five games. Chicago sits a half-game out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks lead the Central Division by the same margin over Indiana entering Wednesday’s action. The Bucks have been on a roll since a 2-2 start, winning five of their next six including a 121-119 win at Oklahoma City on Sunday. The hard-fought win came at a cost, as All-Star swingman Khris Middleton suffered a thigh contusion in the victory and was ruled out for the next three or four weeks after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday. Middleton is averaging 18.5 points and 5.7 rebounds as the team’s best secondary scoring option behind reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who leads the team in just about every statistical category you can name – 29.7 points, 14.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists. Milwaukee took all four meetings with the Bulls last season by a combined 11.5 points and will be at Chicago on Monday.
Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday for his seventh double-double and helped Chicago turn a tie game entering the fourth quarter, into an 18 point win. Forward Lauri Markkanen went 1-of-5 from 3-point range on Tuesday and is shooting just 27.3 percent from their on the season after shooting just over 36 percent in each of his first two seasons. Point guard Zach LaVine led all starters with 25 points after combining for 21 total in the previous two games. The Bulls will host the Nets on Saturday and the Bucks again on Monday.
Milwaukee is already down another long-range shooter in Kyle Korver (head), who sat out Sunday and is day-to-day. Center Brook Lopez finished with 15 points on Sunday and drained a key 3-pointer down the stretch. Point guard Eric Bledsoe will be expected to step up in Middleton’s abscence and scored a season-high 25 points against the Thunder – his fourth consecutive 20-point performance. Milwaukee, who is playing their only home game in a stretch that runs from Nov. 4-20, ranks third in the NBA in both offensive and defensive field goal percentage.
Milwaukee is the better team, of course, but the Bulls are scrappy and can hang around. The Bucks are hurting on the perimeter right now and I say this is a single-digit win for Milwaukee.
Bobby and Jay Combined 32-15 (68%) With NBA Free Picks!
Pick: Bulls +11.5
Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 Thursday games.
Bulls are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Bulls are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bulls are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up win.
Bulls are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bulls are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bulls are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bulls are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Bulls are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 vs. NBA Central.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Bucks are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Bucks are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 vs. NBA Central.
Bucks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Bucks are 40-19-2 ATS in their last 61 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Bucks are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Bulls last 4 games following a ATS win.
Over is 12-2 in Bulls last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 14-3 in Bulls last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 road games.
Over is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 9-3 in Bulls last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 6-2 in Bulls last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 7-3 in Bulls last 10 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 7-0 in Bucks last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 vs. NBA Central.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Bucks last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
Bulls are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
Bulls are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Road team is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
