Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks NBA Betting prediction
PublishedJanuary 3, 2024,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:January 3, 2024 , ,

NBA Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks Prediction 1/3/2024

The Chicago Bulls (15-20) travel to face off against the New York Knicks (18-15) on Wednesday, January 3rd. This game will be played at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Bulls are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Timberwolves. Tip-off is set for 8:30 ET.

Bulls vs Knicks

The Bulls Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 16 points against the 76ers, the highest on the team. He finished with a field goal percentage of 38.5% in the game. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 15 points, but Chicago lost the game 110-97.

With a record of 15-20, the Bulls are looking to reach .500 as they take on the Knicks. Currently, the team is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the Central Division.

Chicago arrives with an ATS record of 18-17 for the season up to this point. As the favorite this season, Chicago is 6-7 vs. the spread while going 12-10 as the underdog.

The Knicks Are Coming Off A Win

The Knicks clinched a 112-106 win over the Timberwolves in their previous game. At the beginning of the second half, the Knicks were leading 61-49.

In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are 3rd in the Atlantic Division and are ranked 8th overall. Coming into today’s action, the team is 18-15 and has gone 1-2 in their last three games.

New York is currently performing above .500 against the spread with an ATS record of 18-15. On the road, the Knicks have an ATS record of 10-10 compared to a 8-5 record vs. the spread at home.

Bulls Offense Breakdown

The Bulls come into today’s game as the 28th ranked scoring offense at 109.5 points per game. When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Bulls are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 96.3 per contest. Not only does the team’s offense play at a slower pace, but they their overall lack of efficiency has them ranked 27th in made field goals per game.

Knicks Offense Breakdown

Through 33 games games, New York is averaging 115.2 points per game (13th). So far, the Knicks are averaging 97.1 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. Their slower style of play has created fewer offensive opportunities, leading to them being ranked 19th in fields goals made per contest.

Bulls Team Defense

Coming into today’s game, the Bulls’ defense is giving up an average of 112.0 points per contest. Chicago struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the 76ers, giving up 19. For the game, Philadelphia scored 110 points in the game.

Knicks Team Defense

On defense, the Knicks come into the game ranked 15th in the league in points allowed at 113.7 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 121 points per contest (16th). In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Knicks defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 55.4% while allowing 37.5% from downtown.

Key Players For The Bulls And Knicks

Our projections for today’s game indicate that DeMar DeRozan will be the primary scorer for the Bulls, with 21 points and going 8/16 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 22.2 points per game, along with 3.8 rebounds.

As for New York, Jalen Brunson is projected to be the primary scorer for the Knicks. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 25, and adding 4 rebounds. For the season, he has a field goal percentage of 46.3% and is averaging 25.6 points per contest.

Bulls vs Knicks Trends

  • In their last three road games, Chicago has averaged 107 points per game while allowing 110. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
  • Across the Knicks last three home games, the team averaged 118 points per game while allowing 128. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 0-3, while going 0-3 straight-up.
  • Through their last five games as the underdog, the Bulls have an ATS record of 3-2 and a straight up mark of 3-2.
  • As the betting favorite, the Knicks have an ATS mark of just 5-5 in their last ten games. New York posted a straight up mark of 7-3 in these matchups.

 

Bulls vs Knicks Prediction

 

The Bulls come in as the underdog at +9.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 218.5, and our model predicts the Bulls and Knicks to score a combined 229 points. We recommend betting on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.