Nets vs Bulls Odds, Picks and Prediction

• The Brooklyn Nets visit the Chicago Bulls riding a 5-game win streak
• Chicago has dropped two straight against the 76ers heading into this one
• The odds and matchups can be found below with a prediction

After a stellar start, the Chicago Bulls have run into a meaty part of their schedule against some East heavies.

The beat doesn’t stop, as they try to avoid a third straight loss when they host the Brooklyn Nets Monday night at the United Center. Tip-off goes at 8pm ET, and is the first leg of an NBA TV doubleheader.

Brooklyn will be playing back-to-back games, after dumping the host Toronto Raptors Sunday afternoon to win their fifth straight and improve to 7-3 on the year.

Despite their hot stretch, they’re still 1.5-point road underdogs Monday.

Nets vs Bulls Odds

Odds as of Nov 7 at FanDuel

Nets Recent Results

After an uneven start to the year and Steve Nash experimenting with combinations and rotations in the absence of Kyrie Irving, the Nets seemed to have hit a level of consistency on the fly.

If that seems unfair for a team to succeed while figuring things out midstream, it helps having the combination of Kevin Durant and James Harden.

📼 Highlights from @KDTrey5 night in Toronto 📼 pic.twitter.com/TwZ1aRqC3j

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 7, 2021

The two put together perhaps their best co-performance of the season, taking apart the Toronto Raptors in the second half to come away with a 116-103 win Sunday.

Durant finished with a game-high 31 points, to go along with seven boards and seven assists. Harden came alive in the second half, potting 28 points with 10 rebounds and eight dimes.

📼 Highlights from @JHarden13 night in Toronto 📼 pic.twitter.com/2Q4Wx8eP2n

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 7, 2021

They helped pace a Nets attack that led to a crisp 51.9% shooting effort from the field, while also going a sharp 17-for-38 from downtown, a 44.7% clip.

All five starters scored in double digits, while super-sub Patty Mills finished with 13 points, draining a pair of dagger triples in the fourth quarter.

Bulls’ Recent Results

Chicago is coming off back-to-back losses to the East-leading Philadelphia 76ers, the latest a 114-105 setback at home. The Sixers were without starters Tobias Harris (COVID) and Danny Green (hamstring), while Ben Simmons remains sidelined without a resolution.

They had trouble trying to contain Joel Embiid, who lit them up for 30 points and 15 boards.

Joel Embiid

30 points, 15 Rebounds🔥🔥

Sixers have won 6 straight

First team in the NBA to 8 wins
pic.twitter.com/F0XiX0QW81

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 7, 2021

The Bulls were in it for most of the game, leading 97-86 with under six minutes to play, but they couldn’t close the deal. They were especially cold from distance, going 7-for-29 in the loss. That came after a 6-for-21 performance in a 103-98 loss in Philadelphia.

While the moneyball isn’t a tremendous part of their arsenal — they attempt the fewest in the NBA at 26.4 per game — they do hold the sixth-best mark in the league at 36.1%.

Zo & Zach out here playing 2K!@NBSChicago | @ZachLaVine pic.twitter.com/e7RgKdj0zS

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 7, 2021

The duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan carried the offensive load. LaVine had 32 points and nine rebounds, while DeRozan chipped in 25 points and four dimes.

Nikola Vucevic will likely welcome in anyone other than Embiid at this point. The Bulls’ big man scored just 15 points on 7-for-23 from the field over the last two games, while adding 22 boards.

Nets vs Bulls Trends

This is just the second back-to-back the Nets have played this year. Their first started with a loss against Charlotte before winning in Washington. Kevin Durant has led the Nets in scoring in nine of 10 games, with Harden being the other leading scorer. Conversely, Harden has led the team in assists in all but one game, with Durant the high-dime man in the other.

Kevin Durant’s jumper is pure art. pic.twitter.com/1lqaCHn0Yy

— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) November 4, 2021

The Nets are just 1-4 ATS in their last five road games, while the Bulls are 6-3 ATS this season, tied for the fourth best mark in the league, but just 2-2 ATS at home. Brooklyn has gone 2-2 ATS on the road, and they’re 0-1 ATS as a road ‘dog this season.

DeMar getting crafty with it.@NBCSChicago | @DeMar_DeRozan pic.twitter.com/tqeIOw7gg9

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 7, 2021

Both teams are in the top 10 in points allowed, with the Bulls in eighth, surrendering 102.7, while the Nets rank ninth at 103.3. Chicago’s shooting will be tested again, as Brooklyn holds teams to 42.2% shooting from the field (3rd) and 32.1% from three (8th).

What’s the Best Bet?

This wager really depends on if you believe Harden has turned the corner on his so-so start to the campaign. If he can score like he did against the Raptors, the Nets are virtually unstoppable.

On the second half of a back-to-back, the Bulls have capable wing defenders in Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball to make like difficult for the Beard, and that point-of-attack defense has me leaning to the home side in a low-scoring, almost pick’em affair.

The Pick: Bulls -1.5 (-110) & UNDER 215 (-110)