Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions Nov 19

Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Betting Preview

WagerTalk NBA handicapper Tony Finn offers his Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls betting preview for Friday, November 19. At the time of posting, the Nuggets are a 3.5-point home favorite over the visitors from Chicago with the total sitting at 209.5 points.

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Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Predictions

• Denver Nuggets -3.5 vs Chicago Bulls
• Total: 209.5 Points
• The under is 8-1 in Denver’s last nine games as a favorite.
• Nuggets are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight games following a straight-up loss.

The Chicago Bulls (10-5, 1st in NBA – Central) close a five-game road trip at Ball Arena in a matchup with the Denver Nuggets (9-6, 2nd in NBA – Northwest) on Friday night. Bulls’ head coach Billy Donovan was asked about his players and their mental and physical makeup on the first demanding road trip of the season. Donovan snuffed out any belief that his players would have significant excuses for looking haggard or playing tired.

Zach LaVine had 30 points, and DeMar DeRozan added 22 in the Bulls Wednesday night 112-107 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Chicago had won four of five before failing in a game vs. the Blazers.

“We just played a little lackadaisical, went through the motions, and we let them get back into the game,” LaVine told the national media after Wednesday night’s loss to Portland.

Chicago was leading for most of the first half before the Blazers focused on turning all missed shots into fast-break points starting the third quarter. At that point, the Bulls didn’t have the legs or the lungs to match the Blazers’ energy.

Like Chicago, this Denver roster has dealt with a substantial number of injuries. First, Jamal Murray tore his ACL, and his return is still undetermined. The latest concern is that of Will Barton’s back. In terms of Barton and his health, it is evident that we will see what his heart size is until help in the form of health arrives at the Nugs locker room and Ball Arena.

Chicago Bulls

DeRozan ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring. The swing forward has averaged 35.5 ppg across the team’s last two games on the road trip.

After the loss in Portland, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told the media that Nicola Vucevic, who missed his fourth game after testing positive for COVID-19, has not yet entered the league protocol’s cardiovascular testing phase. Vucevic entered the protocol on Nov. 11. Vucevic had five double-doubles in his last six games before testing positive. Overall he’s averaging 13.6 points and 10.9 rebounds this season.

Chicago Bulls Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Alex Caruso
SF: Zach LaVine
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Tony Bradley

The current list of ailing Bulls all contributes differently on both ends of the court. The Metrics measure each of the Bulls, Vucevic, Green, and Caruso as substantial contributors to the metrics. Vuvevic is the most significant contributor to the lineup in terms of defense, and he is worth nearly five points to the Bulls offensive rating. Caruso is metrically invisible in the big picture. Green has the largest net swing of the trio; that swing, however, is a negative for Green himself. When Javonte is not on the court and depending on the specific personnel playing alongside him, Green out of the lineup is worth nearly five points to the positive for the Bulls.

Denver Nuggets

Monte Morris has to contribute more to the offense with J. Murray and Will Barton inactive. Morris is playing through an injury that has hindered his responsibilities at the point. Morris is averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game, but his shooting percentages since taking on the role of floor general are well below his career averages.

Jokic is scoring 26.4 points per game with 13.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists for the Nuggets. Will Barton is averaging 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the past ten games for Denver. If either of these two primary contributors is not playing or is inactive, the Nuggets are substantially crippled offensively.

The injuries and minutes played for the typical first two rotations have taken a toll on the Nuggets’ offensive ratings. As a result, Denver ranks 28th in 3P% (three-point percentage).

The Nuggets as a team are shooting poorly from distance. Jokic is shooting 38.6 percent on nearly five attempts per game. The rest of the Denver roster is shooting less than 30%.

Denver Nuggets Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Monte Morris
SG: Austin Rivers
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Injury Report

Bulls: Patrick Williams: out (wrist), Nikola Vucevic: out (health and safety protocols), Alex Caruso: day-to-day (wrist), Javonte Green: day-to-day (ankle).

Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji: out (ankle), Michael Porter Jr.: out (back), Jamal Murray: out (knee).

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Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls Analysis from The GoldSheet

Denver has dominated this series, winning 9 straight against the Bulls, and logging a 9-3 spread mark last 12 (note also a 11-2 over run as well). Still, the two haven’t met sine last season and it’s pretty apparent Chicago is totally different team this season and the Bulls have won 10 of their first 15, which might not sound like much without noting they were 31-41 last year and 22-43 during the Covid-shortened 2019-20 season. Nuggets have dropped 2 straight, entering tonight’s contest unrested after a 103-89 loss to an Embiid-less Philadelphia side last night. Still, with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scoring more than 26 ppg this season, plus Lonzo Ball, clicking on 45% of his treys, the Bulls are loaded. Denver’s not healthy (Jamal Murray not close from making his debut TY, Michael Porter out L6Gs), but Bull C Nikola Vucevic (14 ppg and 11 rpg) has missed this whole trip while in quarantine for Covid. Bulls might spring the upset at Ball Arena, even against angry Nuggets.

NBA Tip-Off Show

Steph Curry and the Warriors pulled off a fantastic fourth quarter comeback (and cover) last night at Cleveland. What do they have left in the tank for Detroit tonight? Join Joe, Tony, Rob and Kevin for the NBA Tip-Off Show at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss tonight’s marquee games, including this Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls clash.

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