Washington Wizards vs Chicago Bulls 01/15/20 NBA Betting Odds and Preview

The Washington Wizards visit the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Wednesday night.

Washington is coming off a loss from the Utah Jazz but the Wizards were glad to see two of their key players return to action. Bradley Beal returned from a five-game absence and Thomas Bryant came back after missing 20 games. The Wizards are 3-2 SU in their last five games. Chicago is heading home after losing to the Boston Celtics. The Bulls have won just once in their last eight games played.

Injury-Plagued Season

The Washington Wizards are having an injury-plagued season. Even before the term began, they already lost All-Star guard John Wall to an Achilles injury. As the season has progressed, Washington has seen players come and go. The Wizards just got Bradley Beal back after five games while Thomas Bryant returned after missing 20 games as well.

Beal scored 25 points after sitting out five games with right leg soreness. Bryant scored eight points in 15 minutes while Davis Bertans put up 18 points after missing a couple of games with a quad injury. Jordan McRae added 16 points for the Wizards who came up short against the Jazz in their last game.

The Wizards are 5th in the league in scoring at 114.8 points per game. They are 28th in rebounding at 42.5 rebounds per game and are also 8th in passing at 25.8 assists per contest. Washington is the worst defensive team in the league this season as they allow opponents to score an average of 119.9 points per game.

One Win in Last Eight Games

The Chicago Bulls are headed to another lottery ending. The Bulls continue to struggle despite having young talent in their lineup. Chicago is having a fantastic season from Zach Lavine but Chicago has not found the winning formula behind him. Chicago only has one win in its last eight games played.

Lavine is coming off a 30-point effort against the Boston Celtics but once again it wasn’t enough. Chicago played without Wendell Carter Jr. for the 4th straight game and Lauri Markannen only had nine points for the Bulls. Thaddeus Young scored 17 points against the Celtics.

The Bulls rank 25th in the league in scoring at 105.7 points per game. Chicago is 25th in rebounding at 43.2 boards grabbed per contest and they are 21st in passing at 22.8 assists per game. The Bulls are 11th in defense with an average of 107.8 points per game allowed.

Who Wins?

Washington is 6-13 SU in their last 19 games played. The Wizards are 5-15 SU in 20 road games played this season, 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against the Eastern Conference, and 2-8 SU in their last 10 Wednesday games. Chicago is 1-7 SU in their last eight games played. The Bulls are 1-4 SU in their last five games played at home, and 1-6 SU in their last seven January games. Head to head, the Bulls are 3-1 SU in their last four games played against the Hornets.

Washington has won three out of its last five games played and they beat Denver and Boston during that period. The Wizards lost to the Jazz in their last outing but Bradley Beal returned after a five-game absence. Thomas Bryant also returned after missing 20 games with a foot injury.

The Bulls have lost seven out of their last eight games played and are coming off a loss to the Boston Celtics despite Zach Lavine having another big night with 30 points. Chicago’s lineup is at full strength right now and although they are just 7-14 SU at home this year, the Wizards only have five road win this season.

Zach Lavine is having a fantastic season for the Bulls but injuries and inexperience have hounded the team this season. Wendell Carter Jr. has missed the last four games with an ankle sprain and I think the presence of Beal gives Washington the difference maker here. These teams have played close games as of late and I think the experience will help the Wizards pull off the upset.

Prediction: Washington Wizards

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Other Bets to Make

The Wizards are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. Washington is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against the Central Division. The Bulls are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight games played. Chicago is 1-4 ATS in their last five games played at home, and 1-4 ATS in their last five games played against the Eastern Conference. Head to head, the Bulls are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Wizards.

The last five meetings between these two teams have been decided by single digits with their last three head to head showdowns won by a total margin of 8 points. This has been a close matchup as of late and this game should be no different. Washington has gotten Beal and Thomas back and they should put up a good fight here. I’ll take the plus points and the underdogs here.

Prediction: Wizards +4

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The total has gone under in four out of the last six games played by the Wizards. Washington has seen the total go over in six out of their last seven games played on the road. The total has gone over in four out of the last six games played by the Bulls. The over is 3-2 in Chicago’s last five games at home. Head to head, the total has gone over in six out of the last nine games between these two teams. The over is also 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams in Chicago.

The Wizards and Bulls have combined to score an average of 231.33 points per game in their last three meetings and they have gone over 227 points in two out of their last three encounters. Washington has the worst scoring defense in the league this season and they are also the 5th highest-scoring team this year. The Bulls are a low-scoring and tough-defending team this season but the over has hit in four out of their last six games played. I like Washington to dictate the pace of the game with their offense.

Prediction: Under 232

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