Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Clippers Prediction: Resurging Clippers take on oft-vulnerable Bulls

The NBA trade deadline is arriving and NBA insiders are busy figuring out what deals are different teams preparing with the deadline just a week away or so. This is a crucial part of the season for the Franchises which are searching for missing pieces or are looking to build long-term. Two teams that need some depth, the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers are going to clash here.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls enter the game after defeating the Magic 128:109 as Zach LaVine scooped up 32 points while DeMar DeRozan dished eight assists. The Bulls have lost five of their last nine games, which followed a three-game winning streak. Due to these inconsistencies, and their inability to build a winning streak exceeding three in a row, they are at 26 losses and 23 wins, staring at the Play-in tournament and in danger of a first-round exit. So far, things are not looking promising.

Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have averaged 50+ points combined but apart from them, and Vucevic the rest of the offense is inconsistent. Nikola Vucevic has averaged over 11 rebounds and 17 points a game. When Lonzo Ball was active, their record exceeded 60% wins but since has gone, they have been below 50% for the most part. Since he has gone, the Point Guard position has been compromised and no PG for the team has averaged double-digit points.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers come into this game after losing 99:122 against the Cavaliers despite a 24 points performance by Brandon Boston Jr. The loss broke their five-game winning streak and due to a poor first half of the month, they are now at 28 wins and 25 losses. They have been winning a lot when Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and if one of them is injured, the other one doesn’t have the depth around him to pull through. They are in the middle of a six-game Eastern Conference road trip and have played two of them, splitting each.

Leonard has especially been on fire lately, having averaged around 26 points on 55% of makes. Paul George continues to be a major help on both ends and with these two, the team finds stability on both ends. Norman Powell is the third-best scorer but he hasn’t been consistent enough. Reggie Jackson’s production has fallen which has impacted the team’s overall performance drastically. John Wall has been injured whereas Ivica Zubac has already peaked as an offensive player, not having the impact he did earlier in the season.

Injuries

• Bulls: OUT: Lonzo Ball, Javonte Green. PROBABLE: Marko SImonivic, Patrick Williams Jr;
• Clippers: OUT: John Wall. QUESTIONABLE: Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington.

Player Props Predictions

• Expected Leading Scorers: Kawhi Leonard(30-35 Points), DeMar DeRozan(27-34 Points), Paul George(26-31 Points), Zach LaVine(24-29 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Nikola Vucevic(11-14 Rebounds), Ivica Zubac(9-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Paul George(6-9 Assists), DeMar DeRozan(5-8 Assists).

Expert Betting Tips

The center stage battle is between the Bulls’ duo of Lavine-DeRozan and the Clippers’ duo of Leonard-George, offensively it is pretty much even stevens but defensively, the latter operates much better. The Bulls haven’t been as stingy at home as they’d like and with the Clippers' much better play, they will fancy their chances. I fancy their chances too and predict a scoreline of 122:117 in their favor.