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Pistons vs Bulls November 18th 2024
At 7:00 ET, the Chicago Bulls (5-9) will travel to take on the Detroit Pistons (7-8) in a divisional matchup. The Pistons are favored by 4.5 points and have won two straight games. The over/under line is set at 233.5.
This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and can be seen on CHSN. The Bulls are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the Central Division. Meanwhile, the Pistons are 5th in the East and 2nd in the Central.
Bulls vs. Pistons Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons
- Where: Detroit at Little Caesars Arena
- Date: Monday, November 18th
- Betting Odds DET -4.5, CHI +150 | DET -179 O/U 233.5
The Bulls Can Win If…
Chicago’s season record fell to 5-9 after a 143-107 home loss to the Rockets on Sunday. The Bulls, who were +4.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 250 points exceeded the O/U line of 233.5 by 16.5 points.
After a tight 1st quarter (27-26), the Rockets took control with a 17-0 run, turning a 64-52 deficit into a 69-64 lead. Houston dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters, outscoring Chicago 81-52, and the Bulls entered the 4th quarter trailing 108-78.
The Bulls struggled offensively in their 143-107 loss to the Rockets, shooting just 33.6% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Despite their shooting woes, they managed to hit 14 threes in the game.
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Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 15 points, scoring 6 in the 1st quarter and another 5 in the 3rd. Talen Horton-Tucker added 12 points, with 9 of those coming in the final quarter.
It was a tough defensive outing for the Bulls, who gave up 143 points to the Rockets on Sunday. Chicago allowed 41 points in the 2nd quarter and 40 in the 3rd, contributing to the loss. Overall, the Rockets shot 52% from the field.
One bright spot for the Bulls was their three-point defense, as they held the Rockets to just 10 made threes on 29% shooting. Chicago also recorded 8 steals and 7 blocks in the game.
- When looking at their past five road matchups, Chicago has an ATS record of 2-3 while averaging 117 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
- In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bulls have a straight up record of 4-6 and an ATS mark of 5-5.
- Over their last three games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.
The Pistons Can Win If…
Detroit moved to 7-8 on the season with a 124-104 road win over the Wizards on Sunday. The Pistons, favored by 5 points, covered the spread with the 20-point victory. The game’s total of 228 points fell just short of the 231.5 O/U line.
Detroit set the tone early, leading 28-18 after the 1st quarter. Washington made a push with a 10-0 run, but the Pistons responded by outscoring the Wizards 37-26 in the 3rd quarter, taking a 102-79 lead into the 4th.
Jaden Ivey’s 28 points and 8 assists led the Pistons to a 124-104 win over the Wizards, with Ivey hitting 4 threes at a 57.1% rate. Malik Beasley added 26 points, knocking down 6 threes at 54.5% efficiency.
Detroit connected on 17 threes, shooting 44.7% from beyond the arc and 47.4% overall. Cade Cunningham contributed a triple-double with 21 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.
The Pistons’ defense shined in the 1st quarter, giving up just 18 points, and they held the Wizards to 25 points in the 4th, helping secure a 124-104 win. Detroit allowed 35 points in the 2nd quarter but tightened up in the 3rd, allowing 26 points.
Despite allowing 12 threes on 44% shooting, the Pistons limited the Wizards to 20 free throws, of which they made 14. Detroit also controlled the boards, giving up only 5 offensive rebounds, and added 11 steals and 4 blocks.
- Across the Pistons last ten home games, the team averaged 106 points per game while allowing 105. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 6-3-1, while going 5-5 straight-up.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Pistons have a strong straight up record of 3-0. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
- In their last three games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +4.5, the Bulls is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 233.5 and our model has the Bulls and Pistons finishing with a combined 257 points. Our pick is to take the over.
Pistons Aim to Reach .500 Mark, Host Slumping Bulls
The Detroit Pistons are one of the early surprise stories of the NBA season. After enduring their worst season in franchise history last year with only 14 wins, they are just one game away from reaching the .500 mark this season. The Pistons will have an opportunity to hit that milestone on Monday night when they host the struggling Chicago Bulls.
Detroit has shown significant improvement under first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, winning six of their last nine games. Even their recent losses were competitive, with close calls against Charlotte, Houston, and an overtime defeat to Milwaukee.
Pistons Riding High After Dominant Win Over Wizards
The Pistons are coming off their most convincing victory of the season, a 124-104 rout of the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Detroit’s dynamic backcourt duo of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey led the way.
Cunningham registered his seventh double-double of the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while also racking up five steals. Bickerstaff praised his star guard’s all-around game and leadership.
“The ball is in his hands the majority of the night, but he understands the total game,” Bickerstaff said. “He understands what his teammates need, the team needs in the moment. I think you’re seeing him express all those things.”
Meanwhile, Ivey had a breakout performance with 28 points and eight assists, marking his sixth 20-plus-point game of the season. His aggressive style has been a catalyst on both ends of the floor.
“He can hurt you in so many different ways,” Bickerstaff added. “He’s setting that head-of-the-snake mentality for our defense as well.”
Bulls Struggling to Find Defensive Consistency
The Chicago Bulls are in dire straits, especially on the defensive end. They are coming off a brutal 143-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, just two days after giving up 144 points to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Head coach Billy Donovan didn’t mince words after the latest defeat, emphasizing the need for more toughness and effort on the defensive end.
“We didn’t have one guy try and take a charge,” Donovan said. “We’ve got to make a stand.”
Chicago’s shooting woes didn’t help matters either. The Bulls shot just 33.6 percent from the field and made only 25 percent of their 56 3-point attempts. Donovan stressed that the team needs to find ways to stay competitive even when shots aren’t falling.
“We can’t be a team that’s only competitive when we’re making shots,” he added.
Coby White, one of the Bulls’ key players, called the loss an embarrassment.
“This was a disservice to the fans and a disservice to a historic organization,” White said. “The fans don’t deserve that.”
Key Matchup: Cunningham & Ivey vs. Bulls’ Defense
The Pistons’ young backcourt of Cunningham and Ivey will look to exploit a Bulls defense that has been porous over the last two games. Chicago needs to figure out how to slow down the Pistons’ offensive firepower if they hope to snap their current skid.
Who’s Favored Tonight? See our NBA consensus picks and catch up on today’s expert calls.
What to Watch For:
- Pistons’ Pursuit of .500: Can Detroit reach the .500 mark for the first time this season under Bickerstaff?
- Bulls’ Defensive Response: After being shredded for 144 and 143 points in consecutive games, will the Bulls show more fight on defense?
- Jaden Ivey’s Emergence: Ivey is coming off a season-high performance. Can he continue to be a difference-maker for Detroit?
Monday’s game marks the first of four meetings this season between these Central Division rivals, with the remaining three matchups scheduled during an 11-day stretch in February. Last season, the two teams split their four-game series, making this matchup even more intriguing.
