San Antonio Spurs vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

San Antonio Spurs vs Chicago Bulls December 5th 2024

At 8:00 ET, the San Antonio Spurs (-131) will host the Chicago Bulls (+110) in a non-conference matchup. The Spurs are currently 10th in the Western Conference with an 11-10 record, while the Bulls are 9th in the East at 9-13.

The over/under line for this game is 236 points. The Spurs are favored by 2.5 points and the game will be played at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. You can watch this game on CHSN.

Bulls vs. Spurs Key Information

The Bulls improved to 9-13 on the season with a dominant 128-102 win over the Nets on Monday. Playing at home, Chicago was favored by 7.5 points and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game came in just under the 231.5-point line, finishing at 230.

Chicago took control with a 13-0 run, stretching the score from 42-39 to 52-42. They outscored the Nets 27-21 in the 2nd quarter, 36-22 in the 3rd, and 36-30 in the 4th, entering the final period with a 92-72 lead.

Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 21 points and 10 rebounds in their win over the Nets, shooting 72.7% from the field and hitting 3 threes at a 60% rate. Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis each added 20 points, with Buzelis connecting on 4 threes at 80% efficiency.

Chicago made 16 threes as a team, though their 34% shooting from deep was below average. They shot 52.2% overall from the field, with Vucevic scoring 11 points in the 3rd quarter and Talen Horton-Tucker adding all 11 of his points in the 4th.

Optimize Your Betting with NBA Tips! Get today’s best NBA Betting Lines.

The Bulls put together a strong defensive performance, holding the Nets to 102 points on 40% shooting. Chicago’s defense was especially effective in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, where they allowed just 21 and 22 points, respectively.

From beyond the arc, the Bulls limited the Nets to 14 made threes on 33% shooting. Chicago also sent Brooklyn to the line just 15 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Bulls finished with 43 defensive rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals and 5 blocks.

The Spurs dropped to 11-10 on the season following a 104-93 road loss to the Suns on Tuesday. San Antonio entered the game as +7 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 197 points fell well short of the 229-point O/U line.

San Antonio fell behind early as Phoenix opened the game with a 13-0 run. The Spurs battled back, outscoring the Suns 32-23 in the 3rd quarter to close the gap to 75-71, but Phoenix pulled away in the 4th, outscoring San Antonio 29-22.

In their 104-93 loss to the Suns, the Spurs struggled offensively, shooting just 35% from the field and hitting only 8 threes at an 18.2% clip. Devin Vassell was a bright spot, knocking down 4 threes at 80% and finishing with a team-high 25 points, including 11 in the 4th quarter.

Stephon Castle added 16 points, with 7 coming in the 3rd quarter, while Victor Wembanyama contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds, scoring 12 of his points in the 3rd. Jeremy Sochan chipped in 14 points, adding 4 in the 3rd and 3 more in the final period.

Despite a solid defensive effort, the Spurs couldn’t overcome the Suns, allowing 104 points in Tuesday’s loss. San Antonio gave up 29 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters but held Phoenix to 23 points in the 2nd and 3rd.

The Spurs limited the Suns to 11 made threes on 34% shooting from deep. They also sent Phoenix to the line 21 times, where they made 17 free throws. San Antonio finished with 35 defensive rebounds, allowing just 2 offensive boards, while adding 9 steals.

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Spurs to secure the win, with an expected final score of 120-100. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -2.5.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 236, and our model projects the Bulls and Spurs to reach a combined total of 220 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

Spurs, Eliminated from NBA Cup, Look to Bounce Back vs. Bulls

The San Antonio Spurs aim to rediscover their offensive rhythm as they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in an interconference matchup. The Spurs, recently ousted from the NBA Cup, will look to turn things around in the Alamo City, where they’ve struggled against Chicago in recent years.

Spurs Seek Shooting Revival

San Antonio returns home after a 104-93 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday, marking their second defeat in three games following a brief four-game win streak. The Spurs struggled mightily on offense, shooting just 35 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent (8-for-44) from 3-point range.

Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points off the bench, while Victor Wembanyama contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds despite going scoreless in the first half and missing eight of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. Stephon Castle (16 points), Jeremy Sochan (14), and Keldon Johnson (10) also reached double figures.

“The defensive effort was really good,” acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “But we turned the ball over and we missed a lot of shots. Those two things really put a lot of pressure on your defense, and I thought it held up pretty well.”

San Antonio trimmed a 13-point halftime deficit to just two in the third quarter before Phoenix pulled away for good with a 7-0 run early in the fourth.

Bulls Riding High Off Big Win

Chicago enters Thursday’s contest fresh off a 128-102 blowout victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, which snapped a two-game skid. Josh Giddey delivered his first triple-double of the season, tallying 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a team-oriented performance.

“It was cool,” Giddey said of his milestone. “The guys made my job easy. We played the right way. I was able to throw the ball ahead. Guys made shots, got to the rim. Team effort. We did it by committee, and that’s how it’s got to be every night.”

Nikola Vucevic led the scoring effort with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie Matas Buzelis poured in a career-high 20 points off the bench. Zach LaVine added 18 points, and Ayo Dosunmu chipped in with 16. Chicago dominated the paint (62-40), out-rebounded the Nets (54-41), and excelled in transition with a 32-15 edge in fastbreak points.

Buzelis has begun carving out a larger role in the Bulls’ rotation, logging at least 17 minutes in four straight games. His persistence has not gone unnoticed by head coach Billy Donovan.

Your Free NBA Picks Await! See today’s NBA basketball picks against the spread and find your edge.

“The thing I admire is Buzelis keeps coming back and understands there is a learning curve for him,” Donovan said. “If he does something, he tries to learn from it and move forward. It doesn’t deter him in his energy and the way he plays.”

Head-to-Head Outlook

The Bulls have won their last two visits to San Antonio, a streak the Spurs will aim to halt on Thursday. Both teams bring contrasting strengths into the matchup: Chicago’s fast-paced, balanced attack versus San Antonio’s emphasis on growth and defensive intensity. As Wembanyama and company seek to regain their offensive form, the Bulls will look to build on their most complete performance of the season.