GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – ODDS & PREDICTIONS FOR JANUARY 12, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from Friday night’s slate features the Golden State Warriors (17-20 SU, 17-20 ATS) taking on the Chicago Bulls (18-21 SU, 20-18-1 ATS).

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

• When: Friday, January 12, 2024
  
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
  
• Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
  
• TV: NBC Sports Chicago & NBC Sports Bay Area

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls Odds (Via DraftKings)

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

Can The Warriors Get Back On Track Against The Surging Bulls?

Golden State Warriors Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 116.8 PPG – 10TH     
• Offensive Efficiency: 117.0 points per 100 possessions – 14TH       
• Scoring Defense: 117.6 PPG – 22ND      
• Defensive Efficiency: 117.8 points per 100 possessions – 23RD 

The Golden State Warriors are 4-6 across their last 10 outings. They enter this matchup with blowout losses in their last two games. This includes an embarrassing 141-105 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. 

The Pelicans jumped out to a 46-27 lead during the first 12 minutes of action, and they never looked back. Stephen Curry (15 points and six assists) and Klay Thompson (13 points and four rebounds) – regarded as one of the best backcourt duos in league history – scored a combined 28 points on just 9-for-23 shooting from the field. 

The home team’s level of play was so poor that the fans at the Chase Center began booing. 

We deserved it for sure, fell behind immediately and I think we’re just lacking confidence right now,” Steve Kerr said, via ESPN. “You just sort of, you get to a stage sometimes where you just kind of lose your belief. And it happens. That’s what’s happened right now with our team the last few days, I think we’ve just lost the spirit and the confidence that has to carry you against talented teams night in and night out.”

The Warriors are hoping to get back on track against a Bulls team that has been playing some decent basketball over the past couple of weeks. 

Can The Bulls Hand The Warriors Their Third Straight Loss?

Chicago Bulls Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 109.7 PPG – 27TH   
• Offensive Efficiency: 112.7 points per 100 possessions – 23RD      
• Scoring Defense: 111.7 PPG – 8TH    
• Defensive Efficiency: 114.7 points per 100 possessions – 14TH   

On the other side of this matchup, the Chicago Bulls have produced six wins in their last 10 games. This includes a 124-119 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. 

Coby White scored a game-high 30 points to go along with eight assists and four rebounds. He also converted six of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc. Zach LaVine finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Nikola added 18 points and 15 rebounds. 

Chicago enters this matchup on a three-game winning streak, and they hope to extend that streak against a Warriors team that is a bit unsure of itself right now. 

Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let us take a close look at the all-important betting trends for both sides.

The Picks

The Spread

The Chicago Bulls opened as a consensus two-point favorite. The line has moved to 3.5 points for the home team (via pre-game.com). Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season. 

• The Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. 
• Golden State is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games against Chicago. 
• The Bulls are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 games. 
• Chicago is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games they have played on a Friday. 
• The Bulls are 4-10 ATS in the last 14 Friday home games.

Based on the above trends, it’s too close to call outright. However, given the fact the Warriors are coming off back-to-back losses by 15 and 26 points, respectively, going with the home team to cover a small spread feels like a safe bet. 

Prediction: Chicago Bulls (-3.5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 229 points. At the time of this writing, the line has moved to 226 points. Here is why going with the “OVER” is the smart choice here. 

• The total has gone OVER five times in the Warriors’ last six contests.

• In Golden State’s last nine matchups against Eastern Conference opponents, the OVER total prevailed six times.

• The total has gone OVER eight times in the Warriors’ last 10 matchups against Central Division opponents.

• The OVER total has won 16 times in the Bulls’ last 19 matchups against Western Conference opponents. 

Prediction: OVER 226 points

Prop Bets

The key player to watch for the road team is Stephen Curry. He currently has -130 odds of scoring more than 27.5 points and +110 odds of scoring less than 27.5 points. 

• On the season, Curry is averaging 26.7 points per outing, 
• In 15 road games, he is averaging 25.9 PPG. 
• Curry has played against Eastern Conference teams 10 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 27.6 points per outing. 
• In five January games, Curry is averaging 23.2 PPG. 
• Over his last 10 outings, he is averaging 22.9 points per outing, exceeding the projected points total for this matchup three times during that stretch. 

As the trends indicate, going with the “under” for Curry looks like the better choice here.

Prediction: Stephen Curry UNDER 27.5 points

The key player to watch for the home team is Zach LaVine. He currently has -120 odds of scoring more than 20.5 points and -110 odds of finishing with less than 20.5 points. Here is a look at how his season splits stack up against his projected scoring total for this matchup. 

• On the season, LaVine is averaging 20.3 points per outing, which is close to the set points total. 
• In 12 home games, he is averaging 19.3 PPG. 
• LaVine has played against Western Conference teams six times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 20.2 PPG. 
• In three January contests, he is averaging just 16.3 points per outing. 
• Over his last 10 outings, LaVine is averaging 18.6 PPG. He has exceeded the projected points for this matchup three times during that stretch. 

Going with the “under” looks like a safe bet based on these trends.

Prediction: Zach LaVine UNDER 20.5 points

James’s Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls Picks

• The Spread: Bulls (-3.5)
• Over/Under: Over 226 points
• Player Prop Bet #1: Stephen Curry Under 27.5 points
• Player Prop Bet#2: Zach LaVine Under 20.5 points