NBA Spreads: Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Utah Jazz will try and avoid losing three straight at home when the host the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night. This is the first meeting between the two teams, and it figures to be a good one, as Carlos Boozer makes his first appearance against his former team.
Our NBA spreads have the Jazz favored by 1-point over the Bulls with the total at 194.5.
Chicago fell 109-103 at Portland on Monday, their second straight loss in a row. Chicago is now 1-2 on their current five-game road trip, and will look to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Utah needed a late rally to beat the Kings 107-104 on Monday, and now return home where they lost 121-105 against Oklahoma City on Saturday.
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The reason the Bulls have been so strong this season, is they have really gotten after it on the defensive side of the ball. That hasn’t been the case in their last two games on the road. Chicago allowed 101 points at Golden State, and then allowed Portland to shoot 51.5% on their way to 109 points. Chicago had held their previous 13 opponents to 96 points or less.
Despite the poor performance on the defensive end, Derrick Rose did everything he could to help the Bulls win the game. Rose finished with 36 points and six assists. Boozer had a solid game with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyle Korver came off the bench to score 14 points.
Boozzer, Korver, and Ronnie Brewer were all part of the Jazz team at one point last season, and all three will be making their first return to EnergySolutions Arena, and the Bulls could use their help. Chicago is just 3-11 in their last 14 trips to Utah.
Utah has typically been a very tough place to play for opposing teams, but so far this season the Jazz haven’t been nearly as effective as years past. Utah is just 17-10 at home, and are coming off that miserable performance against the Thunder.
The Jazz would like to see the same balanced scoring attack they had against the Kings when they take on the Bulls. All five starters scored in double-figures, and Kyrylo Fesenko came off the bench to score a season-high 11 points.
Al Jefferson led the way with 23 points , while Deron Williams finished with 21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Utah also got 18 points from Paul Milsap and 17 from Raja Bell.
I think the Bulls are going to be ready to go in this one, especially Boozer. I look for Chicago to avoid that three-game losing streak, and pull out the win and cover tonight.
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