Chicago Bulls vs Nuggets Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV Channel for Oct. 7

After dropping their first preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Chicago Bulls look to bounce back here as they take on the Denver Nuggets. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic will be making his first stop at the United Center this year and should help put on an entertaining show for the fans.

Like the Bulls, the Nuggets also lost their preseason debut — albeit to weaker competition in Oklahoma City. Both teams look to get back on track now with a rebound win over a playoff-caliber team.

The player I’m most interested to see play tonight is Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., a player many Bulls fans wanted the team to draft back in 2018 before he missed his entire rookie season and most of 2021-22 due to back injuries. Whether or not MPJ can return to form will ultimately dictate if the Nuggets can seriously contend for a title during Jokic’s prime years.

How to watch Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans

• Date: October 7, 2022
• Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
• Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Watch: NBC Sports Chicago, NBA TV
• Stream: FuboTV

Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds, Spread, Over/Under

• Favorite: Bulls (-1.5)
• Over/under: n/a
• Moneyline: -122 Chicago/+100 Denver

Gambling odds and information courtesy of FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. Displayed odds current as of Friday at 7:00 a.m. CT.

Projected Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup and Injury Report

• PG: Ayo Dosunmu
• SG: Zach LaVine
• SF: DeMar DeRozan
• PF: Patrick Williams
• C: Nikola Vucevic
• IR: Out – Lonzo Ball, Justin Lewis

The Bulls do seem willing to experiment with a variety of lineups before the regular season tips off, so it’s not an absolute certainty that Dosunmu gets the nod at point guard here. Still, it’s his job to lose at this point and I expect to see him in the starting five barring any news before tipoff.

Staff Predictions

As they usher Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back into full-speed game scenarios, I expect the Bulls to take this one simply because Denver will have higher priorities than winning this game. No member of the Nuggets’ starting five played more than 15 minutes against OKC, and there’s little reason to believe that will change now. Whether or not the Bulls’ have developed the level of cohesiveness they’re aiming for matters not this time around, as there’s no justification for losing to a team led in minutes played by Ish Smith and Bruce Brown Jr.

Bulls 111, Nuggets 103

Bulls Upcoming Schedule

The Chicago Bulls only have two preseason games left on the schedule after the matchup against Denver. These games will be their last chance to establish an identity in the absence of Lonzo Ball and prove they can get back to playing winning basketball.

• Oct. 9 @ Toronto Raptors
• Oct. 11 vs Milwaukee Bucks