Dallas Mavericks vs Chicago Bulls: Bulls are on fire right now

COVID-19 continues to be a bothersome presence in our lives and the NBA world has also felt its pincering grip. However, thanks to the league’s more flexible approach, the action has kept on ticking and that is why we are here, discussing the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls. Mavericks have won 21 and lost 18 games, right on a five-game winning streak, largely propelled by Luka Doncic, who missed the last game and is questionable for this contest. On the other hand, the Bulls are one of the most red-hot squads in the league, they have won nine games in a row and they have 26 wins and 10 losses in total. Both teams are on a winning streak but the Mavericks will be without Porzingis and Doncic is a 50-50 for this game. Can the Bulls continue their brilliant winning streak? For my game and total prediction, jump to “Expert Betting Tips”. 

Mavericks impressive defense: Mavericks can’t be gauged by their record alone, when Doncic went down, the team won and lost 5 games, and in their losses, they kept it close till the end, just coming short 1-7 points margin. Dallas is a fighting unit and the team’s strength has been the top-notch defense. With Bullock, Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith, the team has three quick footed players from wing to the middle, and thus, there are a lot of contested shots. With feisty guards on the perimeter, Dallas has allowed around 103 points or so, being third in that category. The team is now used to playing without Doncic and with a scorer and playmaker like Brunson, an iso threat in Tim Hardaway, a double-digit scorer in Dorian Finney-Smith, along with different players contributing off the bench, the Mavericks have somehow kept afloat this season and that is why once they have Doncic for a longer period, they can make decent inroads.

Chicago has been blowing out teams: Bulls have been a destructive force all season long and their nine game winning streak highlights that pretty well. Chicago has done an incredible job at the offensive end and they have been one of the most high-scoring teams in the league. With LaVine and DeRozan, the team has the luxury of having two 25+ points per game scorers, meanwhile, Ball can score from outside and also act as a playmaker. Nikola Vucevic holds the fort in the middle, grabbing big time boards and also scoring in various other ways. You think that’s all? No! Coby White is as good a bench scorer as anyone in the league and he can score 15 or more regularly these days while rookie Ayu Dosunmu has proven his worth scoring-wise too. Now, when you have five players who can stuff the scoring-sheet, of course, you’d be one of the best offensive squads in the league. Chicago scores at such a rate that it can afford some defensive lapses every now and then.

Points Range: Bulls love to score points, Mavericks love to hold opponents down than their usual scoring average. Dallas has been just scintillating on the defensive end, holding teams to 96 or less in five of the last six games. On the other hand, the trigger happy Bulls have scored 113 or more in seven of the last eight games including four outings with 130 points or more which means they are one of the highest scoring squads in the league on average. Scoring-wise, even though Dallas did score 130 against a defensively vulnerable Rockets in the last game, the team usually figures in the 99-103 range. Defensively, Bulls have given 110 or more regularly so yes, they play the shootout type of games but build a big lead at the half usually so even if the oppositions can score that much, two or three missed shots in a row can derail the overall picture for them, Dallas, doesn’t like to engage in these type of battles mostly. That is why I’d go for an in-betwee battle and I believe Chicago is going to find a way to get past 108 at least and Dallas past 104. I think the total points range here is 215-225.

Prediction: If Doncic plays here, the Mavericks chances boost considerably and the Bulls with their isolation, shooting, and deep team can pose problems whether he plays or not. Mavericks are an elite defensive unit and have improved with each month while the Bulls are an elite offensive unit, also improving each month. You get how exciting this battle can be! Still, Mavericks defenders will have their hands fuller than usual with isolation scorers, shooters, slashers, cutters, and late-game shot creators of the Bulls. The Mavericks are nowhere near deep offensively especially with Porzingis out and if Doncic misses the game, well, their chances take a severe hit. If Doncic plays, I give the Bulls a 58% chance of winning, if he doesn’t, I give them a 66% chance of playing. I think the Bulls will take this 114:104.

• Chicago Bulls: Total Points Over 111.5 for 2.10;
• Player Props: Lonzo Ball: Over 11.5 for 1.80;
• Total Over 217.5 for 1.96.