San Antonio (20-24) at Chicago (18-30)
When: Monday, January 27th, 2020
Where: United Center,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: FS Southwest
Opening Odds: San Antonio -2/217.5
Games around the NBA the next few days aren’t really going to seem to matter much with everyone’s mind on the death of a Basketball legend. Prior to Sunday’s action around the league, word came out that former Los Angeles Lakers and multiple league and Finals MVP Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash in California. The San Antonio Spurs were one of the teams that took to the court yesterday and exchanged solemn 24-second violations to start their matchup with the Toronto Raptors – Bryant’s old number. The Spurs move on to Chicago Monday night to take on the Bulls at United Center. Like many NBA players, guard DeMar DeRozan grew up idolizing Bryant and was held to 14 points – more than eight below his average – in the 110-106 loss to the Raptors. The Bulls I’m sure will have some sort of tribute as they get back on the court after Saturday’s 118-106 win at Cleveland behind Zach LaVine’s 44 points. This will be the first meeting of the season between the clubs after splitting two in 2018-19.
Five Spurs scored in double-figures Sunday, as the team remained 1.5 games behind eighth place Memphis in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot. San Antonio turned the ball over 16 times and shot just 41.5 percent from the field as it lost for the fourth time in the last six games at home. Point guard Dejounte Murray scored 13 points on Sunday and is 7-of-11 from 3-point range over his last five games after draining 3-of-4 versus the Raptors. The Spurs return home to face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Point guard Tomas Satoransky came up big in Chicago’s win over Cleveland, scoring 19 points after being held to eight points or fewer in each of his previous five games. The Bulls remain in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games behind the Brooklyn Nets and a half-game ahead of Detroit. LaVine added 10 rebounds and eight assists to his explosive night, falling just shy of his first career triple-double. LaVine averages a team-leading 25.3 points per game, but has averaged 30 points this month. The Bulls play at Indiana on Wednesday.
There’s no telling what kind of emotion or motivation these players will have the next few games, the Spurs have struggled in United Center the past few seasons, going 0-5 ATS. I’ll take the home dog here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Monday. He is 49-43-3 on the season!
Pick: Bulls +2
Spurs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
Spurs are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Spurs are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Spurs are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a road favorite.
Spurs are 10-21-1 ATS in their last 32 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Spurs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
Bulls are 17-36 ATS in their last 53 home games.
Bulls are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Bulls are 9-22 ATS in their last 31 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Bulls are 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 Monday games.
Bulls are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bulls are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 games as a home underdog.
Over is 5-0 in Spurs last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 5-0 in Spurs last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Under is 8-2-1 in Spurs last 11 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 7-2 in Spurs last 9 games as a favorite.
Over is 17-6 in Spurs last 23 games playing on 0 days rest.
Over is 5-2 in Spurs last 7 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 9-4 in Bulls last 13 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 11-5 in Bulls last 16 Monday games.
Spurs are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.
Spurs are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 15-7-1 in the last 23 meetings.
Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.
