The Chicago Bulls (3-4) and Brooklyn Nets (2-5) meet Tuesday at Barclays Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT).
The Bulls failed to cover the spread as 2.5-point home underdogs in a 114-109 loss vs. the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday. F DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.
Chicago has failed to cover in 2 consecutive games.
The Nets lost vs. the Indiana Pacers 125-116 Saturday but bounced back to defeat Indiana 116-109 Monday – failing to cover in both games as home favorites. Brooklyn is 0-5 against the spread (ATS) in its last 5 games.
Brooklyn is the only team in the NBA this season to have 2 players in the top 10 in points per game. F Kevin Durant is 4th in the league (32.6) and G Kyrie Irving is 10th (30.1).
Bulls at Nets odds
- Moneyline (ML): Bulls +102 (bet $100 to win $102) | Nets -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +1.5 (-110) | Nets -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 230.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Bulls at Nets key injuries
Bulls
- G Lonzo Ball (out) knee
- G Ayo Dosunmu (chest) questionable
- C Andre Drummond (shoulder) out
- G Zach LaVine (knee) questionable
- G Coby White (quad) questionable
Nets
- G Seth Curry (ankle) out
- G Ben Simmons (knee) out
- F T.J. Warren (foot) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bulls at Nets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nets 115, Bulls 110
Moneyline
PASS.
There is no need to pay the extra 15 cents on the ML when the Nets are just 1.5-point favorites. Lay the points with Brooklyn or consider betting just the total.
Against the spread
BET NETS -1.5 (-110).
Despite their lack of success ATS, the Nets still have one of the best rosters in the NBA. Only laying 1.5 points at home vs. a banged-up Bulls team is too low of a number.
Some of Brooklyn’s poor performances ATS this season may be attributed to lack of motivation. This is a veteran team that knows it will make the playoffs and is focused on winning a championship. However, there should be no lack of motivation for superstars Durant and Irving Tuesday in a nationally televised game on TNT.
Lay the points.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 230.5 (-110).
The Nets and Bulls have played each other close in recent history. The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 head-to-head meetings.
The Bulls also show up defensively when well-rested and the Under is 5-1 dating back to last season in their last 6 games when playing on 2 days of rest.
Expect a low-scoring, defensive matchup as these 2 underperforming teams try to make a statement on national TV.