NBA Underdog Pick of the Day (Spurs Could Upset Short-Handed Bulls on Monday)
By Peter Dewey
Who wants to see an upset in the NBA tonight?
Almost every night, we will see an underdog come away with a straight up win in the Association, but picking that upset can be tough, especially with a loaded slate on Monday night.
However, there’s one team that I think is primed for an upset on Valentine’s Day: the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs enter this game after two straight double-digit wins, and they are taking on a Chicago Bulls team that is without Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso tonight. Let’s break down the odds via WynnBET and why the Spurs are poised to pull off an upset.
Spurs vs. Bulls Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
- Spurs +5.5 (-110)
- Bulls -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline:
- Spurs +175
- Bulls -215
Total:
- 234 (Over -110/Under -110)
Why Spurs Can Upset Bulls
The Bulls have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, but they may struggle in this game with LaVine out of the lineup.
Chicago has taken a major step back defensively, ranking 19th in the NBA in defensive rating this season and playing the league’s No. 23 defense over its last 15 games.
That’s a bad sign against a Spurs team that loves to push the pace and ranks in the top half of the league in offensive rating. San Antonio plays at the No. 5 pace in the league, and if easy baskets are readily available with Ball and Caruso out, the Spurs are going to find them.
This is going to turn into a showdown between Dejounte Murray and DeMar DeRozan, and while there may be extra motivation for DeRozan against his former team, this isn’t the best matchup stylistically for the Bulls.
Usually, uptempo and high-scoring games help the Bulls, as they are No. 4 in the league in offensive rating, but without LaVine flanking DeRozan, there is less room for error from the Bulls’ supporting cast.
Chicago is just 5-5 in the 10 games that LaVine has missed this season, so don’t be surprised if the Spurs can pull off a straight up victory on the road.
Lean: Spurs Moneyline (+175)
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.