Minnesota (34-23) at Chicago (18-35)
When: Friday, February 9th 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
Time: 9:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Minnesota -6/217
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The first-place Minnesota Timberwolves will wrap-up a quick two-game road trip when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday night – bringing back Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson to the United Center floor. The Bulls went into rebuilding-mode in the summer and traded away Butler to the Timberwolves and are struggling with a young team with losses in seven straight. While Butler, Gibson and former head coach Tom Thibodeau continue to resurrect the Timberwolves franchise, the Bulls are trying to integrate its biggest catch from the Butler trade into the mix – guard Zach LaVine. He was recovering from knee surgery when the trade happened and did not make his Chicago debut until January 13th, and he’s starting to get comfortable in a Bulls uniform, scoring a season-high 27 points at Sacramento on Monday. The Timberwolves are coming off a tough 140-138 overtime loss at Cleveland on Wednesday in which they fell despite shooting 58.1% from the floor and hitting 19 3-pointers – another sign of how bad Cleveland’s defense is right now. Minnesota took the last four in the series, including two straight at Chicago, but are just 12-17 away from home this season.
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The 19 made 3-pointers marked a franchise record for Minnesota, but the defense allowed Cleveland to hit 21 as the teams combined for an NBA-record 40. Minnesota is actually dead last in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage (47.8%) and 21st against the three (36.8%). Butler scored 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting in the loss and is hitting 56.8% of his shots from the floor over the last four games. Center Karl-Anthony Towns made a career-high six 3-pointers on as many attempts Wednesday. The T’Wolves lead Oklahoma City by 2.5 games in the Northwest Division and will host Sacramento on Saturday.
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Two of the biggest pieces in Chicago’s rebuilding plan have not been on the court lately with second-year point guard Kris Dunn (who also came over in the Butler trade) and rookie power forward Lauri Markkanen (personal) out of the lineup. Markkanen, who skipped the road trip following the birth of his first child, is expected back on Friday but Dunn, who sat out the last eight games due to a concussion, is out indefinitely. After an 0-3 road trip out West, the Bulls will be home for the next four games leading up to next weekend’s All-Star Break. Power forward Bobby Portis, who averages 6.6 rebounds a game, is averaging 12.3 boards over the last three contests.
The Bulls are a bit of a mess right now, but with Markkanen back in the lineup and the T’Wolves coming off a track meet in Cleveland, I believe Chicago can keep it close at home. Minnesota is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road affairs.
Pick: Bulls +7
- Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Timberwolves are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Timberwolves are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 4-12-1 ATS in their last 17 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.
- Bulls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.
- Bulls are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Bulls are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Bulls are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Bulls are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 vs. Western Conference.
- Bulls are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Bulls are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bulls are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bulls are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Under is 4-1 in Timberwolves last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 7-2 in Timberwolves last 9 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 7-2 in Timberwolves last 9 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 27-9 in Timberwolves last 36 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Timberwolves last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 5-2 in Timberwolves last 7 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Timberwolves last 20 Friday games.
- Over is 15-7 in Timberwolves last 22 vs. NBA Central.
- Over is 4-0 in Bulls last 4 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Under is 4-0 in Bulls last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Bulls last 8 Friday games.
- Under is 7-1 in Bulls last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Bulls last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 19-5-2 in Bulls last 26 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Over is 13-6 in Bulls last 19 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Under is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings in Chicago.
- Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.
