The Bulls finally got back in the win column on Friday, topping Toronto 116-106 on a handful of strong performances, none more noticeable than Doug McDermott’s 30-point outburst. Chicago could use a win streak, but it was the Wizards that got the win when these teams last met in January.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Chicago has been scuffling of late without Jimmy Butler. The Bulls need the talented guard on the court, but he’ll be sidelined again on Wednesday.
At home this season, the Bulls are 10-17 ATS and over their last nine games, they’re a bankroll depleting 3-6 ATS. On the other side of the court, the Wizards are 14-11 ATS on the road, and have covered the spread in five of their last seven games.
WHEN THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS ARE ON OFFENSE
The Wizards aren’t a strong rebounding club nor are they particularly strong from the free throw line, but they are a top-10 shooting team from the floor.
This season, they’re averaging 102.4 PPG and shooting 45.6 percent from the floor. Look for their offense to struggle a bit against the Bulls who still rank first in opposing field goal percentage at 43.2 percent allowed.
Washington has a pair of guards leading the team’s offense. John Wall and Bradley Beal have 19.9 and 18.5 PPG respectively. They’re both also strong on the perimeter while also able to penetrate inside.
Watch how much the guard duo is able to exploit a weakened Bulls’ backcourt without Butler.
The last time the Wizards faced the Bulls, they scored 114 points, shooting 48.5 percent from the floor. Beal wasn’t on the court, but Wall and fellow starting guard Garrett Temple combined for 31 points and that was with Butler in the Bulls’ lineup.
Overall, the Wizards had seven players with at least 10 points in the win. They’ve got a deeper roster now with Beal back. Go ahead and back Washington based on these teams last meeting and series history. They were able to find a weakness in the Bulls’ defense and outshot Chicago based on both percentage and total number of shots.
Don’t bank on the Bulls’ defense. They’ve allowed at least 105 points in nine straight games. If Washington struggles to score early, lowering the spread and/or the total, take advantage and back Washington and the over.
WHEN THE CHICAGO BULLS ARE ON OFFENSE
While the Bulls defense has allowed the opposition to score more of late, their offense hasn’t compensated. In fact, the Bulls have had an issue with consistency on that side of the court without Butler.
Chicago needs something to get the offense going and, perhaps, that’s a matchup against the Wizards. Defensively, the Wizards allowed 100 points the last time they played the Bulls. They’re likely to allow more on the road this time around. Washington ranks in the bottom third of the league, allowing 104.9 PPG and a 46.9 percent shooting percentage from the floor.
Butler is by far the team’s leading scorer with 22.4 PPG. Behind him, the team still has talent. Center Pau Gasol leads the way with 17 PPG and 10.8 RPG. Meanwhile, Derrick Rose is scoring 16.3 PPG as the main weapon out of the backcourt.
Keep an eye out for someone else stepping up to take the place of Butler’s production. When the Bulls finally beat the spread and got a win last time out, that player was Doug McDermott. If he can repeat or someone else like E’Twaun Moore, Taj Gibson or Mike Dunleavy have a hot hand, then back homebased Chicago.
BETTING TRENDS AND MATCHUPS
This matchup may boil down to who can dominate on the perimeter. The Bulls are light-handed behind Derrick Rose, but the oft-injured veteran is still immensely talented. It’s just a matter of putting a team on his shoulders.
On the other side, however, we’ve already seen the Wizards get production from Wall against the Bulls, now Bradley Beal will be on the court, too, skewing things back in Washington’s favor.
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The contest between the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls will take place Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
