NBA Regular Season 2023/24, Sunday, February 04, 2024
On Sunday night, the NBA will see an inter-conference duel between the mediocre Chicago Bulls and the ambitious Sacramento Kings.
However, since the visiting Californians are playing an unloved back-to-back against the rested Bulls, excitement is guaranteed!
My Bulls Kings betting tip, for which the Intertops bonus applies, explains why you can expect a tight affair in which the hosts will win the opening quarter
The legendary Chicago Bulls are currently in no man’s land in the world’s best basketball league.
With 23 wins and 26 losses, they are too good for the lottery and the lucrative picks that come with it, but at the same time not good enough to have a real chance of making it past the first playoff round.
The team from the Windy City currently ranks ninth in the West (four games behind the first guaranteed playoff spot) and would therefore be eligible to participate in the play-in tournament at the end of the season.
In their last ten games, the Bulls have an even 5-5 record, operating more successfully at home (14-11) than away (9-15).
With an offensive rating of 113, the Bulls have a below-average offense (23rd), but with a rating of 114.7 they have an average defense (14th).
The Bulls have the slowest offense in the league (which is not a bad thing per se) and are one of the most ball-secure teams (only four teams have a lower turnover rate).
The Chicago are led by veteran star DeMar DeRozan, who continues to put up very solid numbers (22 points and 5.3 assists on 46.7% from the field), but whose old-fashioned, isolation-focused style of play is not sustainable in the playoffs.
Co-star Zach LaVine (19.5 points) could make his comeback against the Kings after missing six games due to an ankle injury.
The Kings are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference, which has always been stronger, having won five of their last ten games and five of their last six.
The Californians have also won four of their last five away games. Including last night’s 133:122 win at the Indiana Pacers.
While the Bulls are weak offensively and mediocre defensively, the Kings rank in the middle of the league at both ends of the floor.
The Purple & White’s offense is the fourteenth best with a rating of 116.7, while the defense ranks 17th with a rating of 115.8.
Kings superstar De’Aaron Fox, who quite surprisingly was not nominated for this year’s All-Star Game, has been able to improve on last year and is currently averaging 27.1 points, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals with a 46.8% shooting percentage from the field and 37.7% from the three-point line.
The Kings can also count on strong role players, with four other players behind Fox and co-star Domantas Sabonis (20 points and 13 rebounds per game) scoring ten or more points per game.
The historical record between the Bulls and Kings is exactly even with 84 wins each, with the Californians winning nine of the last twelve meetings (most recently three wins in a row).
The last six matches have all been close affairs, decided by an average difference of 6.7 points.
Also relevant to betting is the fact that the Kings have a 2-4 record in back-to-backs this season, with their four defeats coming against the ambitious teams from New Orleans, Minnesota and the Clippers (twice).
My prediction is that the Bulls will win the opening quarter.
After all, the Bulls are not only more rested (last game on Thursday), but have also won the first quarter in four of their last five home games.
The same has happened in the last three home games against the Kings.
Since my prediction is listed in the best sports betting apps with lucrative odds around 1.90, there is a chance to take a real stab at the bookies.
Last but not least, I would like to point out that my last two NBA tips have worked out!
My Bulls Kings tip: Chicago wins the 1st quarter!
