Bulls vs. Hawks: Joe’s Expert Picks and Predictions

Chicago Bulls (3-6 SU, 3-6 ATS) vs. Atlanta Hawks (4-6 SU, 3-7 ATS)

When: Saturday, November 9th, 7:30 PM (ET)

Where: State Farm Arena, GA, Atlanta

TV: CHSN

Point Spread: Chi +3/Atl -3

Total: 239.5

Money Line: Chicago Bulls +122/-143

Notable Injuries

Bulls

• Zach LaVine (Questionable) Adductor
• Lonzo Ball (Out) Wrist
• Torrey Craig (Questionable) Illness
• Jalen Smith (Probable) Knee

Hawks

• Cody Zeller (Out) Not With Team
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (Out) Hamstring
• De’Andre Hunter (Questionable) Knee
• Vít Krejčí (Out) Adductor
• Kobe Bufkin (Out) Shoulder
• Seth Lundy (Out) Ankle

At 7:30 ET, the Atlanta Hawks (-143) will host the Chicago Bulls (+122) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Hawks are favored by 3 points, and the over/under is set at 239.5.

This game will be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and can be seen on CHSN.

Recent Form

The Bulls fell to 3-6 on the season after a 135-119 home loss to the Timberwolves on Thursday. Chicago entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 254, well over the pre-game line of 226.5.

Chicago led 95-90 going into the 4th quarter, but the Timberwolves took control with a 12-0 run, stretching the score from 106-102 to 118-102. Minnesota outscored the Bulls 45-24 in the final period.

The Hawks fell to 4-6 on the season after a 122-121 loss to the Pistons on Friday. Atlanta, who entered the game as +2 point underdogs, covered the spread but couldn’t pull off the win. The total score of 243 points went over the pre-game line of 227.5.

After a slow start, where they were outscored 40-23 in the 1st quarter, the Hawks battled back, winning each of the next three quarters. However, an 11-0 run by the Pistons, which extended their lead from 90-85 to 101-85, proved to be too much for Atlanta to overcome, despite a strong 4th quarter where they outscored Detroit 36-27.

The Historicals

Spanning across the last five head-to-head matchups, the Bulls and Hawks have been competitive, with an average margin of victory sitting at just 0 points per game. This has resulted in a 3-2 ATS record for Chicago. In these contests, they averaged a combined 236 points per game, leading to an over-under mark of 2-2-1.

Analysis

Nikola Vucevic and Coby White led the Bulls’ offense in Thursday’s loss to the Timberwolves, with Vucevic scoring 25 points and grabbing five rebounds, shooting 73.3% from the field and hitting three threes at 60%. White added 24 points and eight assists, connecting on four threes at 44.4% and shooting 60% overall.

As a team, the Bulls shot 53.4% from the field and made 15 threes at a 41.7% clip. Vucevic scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter, while White added 9 points in the same period.

The Bulls struggled defensively on Thursday, allowing 135 points to the Timberwolves. They gave up 28 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters but had their worst defensive performance in the 4th, where they allowed 45 points. Minnesota shot 54% from the field.

Chicago also had trouble defending the three, with the Timberwolves hitting 16 threes at a 42% clip. The Bulls put Minnesota on the line 17 times, and they converted all their free throws. Defensively, the Bulls recorded nine steals and four blocks.

Trae Young’s 35 points and 13 assists, including six made threes at a 50% clip, led the Hawks in their 122-121 loss to the Pistons. Atlanta hit 15 threes, shooting 41.7% from deep and 45.4% overall from the field.

Jalen Johnson added 20 points, with 12 coming in the 3rd quarter, while Dyson Daniels contributed 18 points. Young scored 10 points in the 4th, and Larry Nance also added 10 of his 13 points in the final period.

Despite a solid defensive effort in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed just 26 points, the Hawks couldn’t overcome a rough 1st quarter, giving up 40 points in a 122-121 loss to the Pistons. Atlanta sent Detroit to the line 31 times, where they converted 21 free throws.

The Hawks allowed the Pistons to shoot 51% from the field, including 39% from beyond the arc, with Detroit hitting 13 threes. Atlanta recorded 12 steals and six blocks in the game.

Betting Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, Chicago has an ATS mark of 5-5. Their straight-up record in these matchups was 4-6 while averaging 114 points per game.
• When looking at their past three home matchups, Atlanta has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 122 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
• Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Chicago has an ATS mark of 2-3 while going 2-3 straight up.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Hawks have a straight up record of 6-4. But their mark vs the spread was just 3-7.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

This should be a fun one to watch tonight, as Trae Young and Coby White should be looking to get up shots from all over the floor. White will be looking to carry the Bulls offense tonight if LaVine can’t play or is limited. In the end, I see Atlanta coming through at home, and I like them to pick up the win and cover at -3.