Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks: Prediction and betting odds
In their first game back home from a five-game Western Conference road trip, second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls are getting set to take on the longtime rival New York Knicks at the United Center. On the night of Nov. 21, the Bulls will face a good team in former Chicago head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.
This looks to be a spot where the Bulls can exact revenge for a comeback that fell just short last month. The Bulls had a one-point loss to the Knicks at home at the United Center back on Oct. 28. That was a tough loss that is one of the few blemishes on Chicago’s record this season against Eastern Conference opposition.
The Bulls come into this meeting with the Knicks sporting a record of 11-5 following their big 114-108 win over the Denver Nuggets, who were without superstar center Nikola Jokic, back on the road back on Nov. 19. Donovan and the Bulls will be looking to extend their winning streak to two games if they can top the Knicks to round out the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Knicks come into this game with a record of 9-7 following a 106-99 win over the lowly Houston Rockets on Nov. 20. This was an up and down start to the season for the Knicks, who are looking to right the ship upon a difficult phase of the regular season schedule coming up.
With all of this in mind, here’s a look into the betting odds and prediction as the Bulls take on the Knicks at the United Center on Nov. 21, with tip-off time set for 7 p.m. CT.
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks betting odds
According to WynnBet, the Bulls are a 5.5-point favorite a few hours ahead of tip-off over the Knicks. The over/under for this game is set around 212 total points.
And the ESPN matchup predictor (based on the Basketball Power Index) gives the Bulls a 61.5 percent chance to beat the Knicks at home.
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks prediction
This is surely a big game for the Bulls that could continue to elevate their contender status in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls rounded out what was a mostly successful five-game road trip out west on a high note with a win over the Nuggets.
It will largely be up to the star duo of shooting guard Zach LaVine and shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan to put the Bulls in a position to win this game. With star center Nikola Vucevic still out due to the league’s health and safety protocol, the scoring responsibility will still mostly be placed on the shoulders of LaVine and DeRozan.
With the duo of LaVine and DeRozan currently playing at an All-Star, if not borderline MVP contender level, right now this team should be in a good spot. It’s easy to forget that LaVine is currently playing through a thumb laceration in his non-shooting hand given his efficient scoring pace of late.
DeRozan currently ranks fifth in the NBA in points per game, at 26.6. Meanwhile, LaVine ranks fourth in the league in points per game, at 26.8. If this duo can get going against a good Knicks defense, granted one that has taken a step back compared to last season, then the Bulls should be able to come away with a win in this one.
The Knicks are now in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating, at 108.3. Thibs’ squad also proved to be rather vulnerable of late with some inconsistent performances through a recent easier stretch of the early-season schedule.
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This feels like a game that the Bulls should be able to get revenge on for the Knicks win at the United Center late last month. The Bulls are playing really well right now and should be able to ride the scoring efforts of LaVine and DeRozan to get to a dozen wins on the season.