The NBA betting action continues Thursday, December 2, 2021, with the Eastern Conference battle from Madison Square Garden in New York, so we have prepared the best Bulls vs. Knicks betting pick and odds.
Chicago and New York have already met twice in 2021-22, and each team has emerged victorious once. The Bulls opened as small 2-point road favorites for this one, while the totals are listed at 213.5 points on Caesars Sportsbook.
The Bulls smashed Charlotte for their 14th win of the season
The Chicago Bulls improved to 14-8 SU and ATS on the season with a convincing 133-119 victory to the Charlotte Hornets this past Monday. They easily covered a 5.5-point spread, making 59.6% of their field goals and 46.7% of their 3-pointers.
The Bulls handed out an eye-popping 35 assists against the Hornets, while Nikola Vucevic led the way with a 30-point, 14-rebound double-double. Vooch made all of his six attempts from downtown and finished the game with a plus-31 net rating.
Chicago has played in a shaky form as of late, losing three of its last five games overall, including a 118-113 defeat at the lowly Houston Rockets. The Bulls own the ninth-best offensive rating (110.7 points per 100 possessions) and the eighth-best defensive rating in the NBA (106.1).
The Knicks suffered a tough loss at Brooklyn
The New York Knicks battled bravely as 7.5-point road underdogs last Tuesday but couldn’t escape with a victory. They suffered a tough 112-110 defeat at the Brooklyn Nets, as we saw a nail-biting back-and-forth fourth quarter.
On paper, the Knicks didn’t deserve a loss. They shot 48.4% from the field and outscored the Nets in the paint 52-46. Also, they held Brooklyn to only 8-for-28 shooting from deep. Alec Burks led the way for the nicks with 25 points and five dimes, while Julius Randle added 24 points and nine rebounds.
The Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau decided to remove Kemba Walker from the rotation, so Burks will continue to start at PG. The Knicks are scoring 108.8 points per 100 possessions (14th in the NBA) while yielding 108.7 in a return (tied-18th).
Trends:
Chicago:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six road games against the Knicks
New York:
- 7-3 ATS in the last ten games against Chicago
- 10-5 ATS in the last 15 games against the Central Division
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks Pick
The first two meetings between Chicago and New York in 2021-22 took place at United Center. The Knicks beat the Bulls 104-103 in October, while Chicago bounced back with a 109-103 victory on November 21.
We should see another tight contest that could easily go either way. The Bulls will miss Coby White (COVID-19) and Patrick Williams (wrist), while the Knicks might be without R.J. Barrett (illness). I lean the hosts because they are 7-3 SU and ATS in the last ten meetings with Chicago, but staying away from the side bet is probably the best move here.
Pick: Take New York Knicks +2.0 at -110
The Total:
Neither of these two foes prefers to play at a fast pace, so I don’t expect to see a high-scoring affair. The Bulls are registering 98.6 possessions per 48 minutes (15th in the NBA), while the Knicks average only 96.9 (23rd).
The Knicks rank fourth in the league in the opponent field goal percentage (43.1%). On the other side, the Bulls force 15.9 turnovers a night (7th). The under is 9-2 in the Knicks’ last 11 games overall, and it is 13-6 in the Bulls’ previous 19 meetings with the Eastern Conference.
Pick: Go under 213.5 points at -110
