Milwaukee Bucks (-8.5) are favorites on the NBA odds vs the Chicago Bulls in Week 5, 2024 Season

The first game of an NBA on ESPN doubleheader features the Chicago Bulls making a short trip north to face the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks largely had their way in this rivalry in recent years and are solid favorites on the NBA odds.

Chicago Bulls +283

The Bulls had lost two straight games and were allowing 143.5 points per in those two entering Monday but they upset the Pistons in Detroit, 122-112, as Zach LaVine scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 95 with 8:46 left, but LaVine had nine points in a 13-2 run that put the Bulls up by 11 with 5:45 to go. He hit six 3-pointers in the quarter after a slow start. He also finished with six rebounds, five assists and just one turnover in Monday’s game.

Josh Giddey

“He can get going,” Giddey said about LaVine. “When he does that he’s such a high gravity guy and he attracts attention. I said to him, ‘You want to keep going?’ He said ‘yeah.’”

Zach LaVine activated the Takeover Badge last night in Detroit 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rARqnLZ1Or

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 19, 2024

Coby White

White added 25 points, four rebounds and four assists and is averaging 20.8 points over his last five appearances. Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds. He drilled a season-best six triples in Monday’s victory and paced his club in scoring and rebounding. Vucevic has now put up 20-plus points in three of his last five appearances. He is shooting 59.4% from the floor so far this season and 84.8% from the line, both of which would be career-highs.

Nikola Vucevic

“I just wanted to come into this season and be me and play my game,” said the 14-year veteran Vucevic. “I know what I am capable of and what I can do. I started off the year well and I just want to continue to play that way. Tonight, I wanted to be more aggressive, take a little more of the lead on both ends of the floor, play off my teammates.”

For what it’s worth, Vucevic has logged a double-double in four of his last five games against the Bucks, averaging 21.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg during this span. Giddey added 11 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds on Monday. He came close to recording the first triple-double of his tenure with the Bulls, but he did finish with his first point-assist double-double.

The Rankings

Chicago ranks top-10 in the NBA in several offensive categories, ranking first in pace (105.2), second in total 3FGM (240), tied for third in 3FGM per game (16.0) and tied for sixth in assists per game (28.4). The Bulls rank first in the NBA in defensive rebounds per game (36.1), sixth in rebounds per game (45.9) and third in total rebounds (688). Chicago has five games this season with 50-plus rebounds, which is tied for fourth in the NBA in such games recorded.

Billy Donovan

Coach Donovan’s club is one of the best teams in the NBA in limiting opponent’s three-point success, ranking fifth in opponent 3FG% (.341) and first in contesting three-point shots per game (18.0). The Bulls are also the only team in the NBA in 2024-25 to have two games with 35-plus assists and nine or less turnovers in the same game. Chicago is one of four NBA teams with seven or more games with 30-plus assists (tied for second in the NBA in 2024-25).

Milwaukee Bucks -370

The disappointing Bucks won for the third time in four games Monday, 101-100 over visiting Houston as Damian Lillard hit a driving layup with 3.9 seconds left. Lillard scored 18 points after missing the previous three games while in the concussion protocol. The Rockets rallied from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter and stayed ahead until Lillard’s decisive basket.

Brook Lopez

“How many other guys would you want rather than Dame in that situation, handling the ball and making decisions,” center Lopez said. “We’re blessed to be in that situation. We’ve got a lot of people that contributed all night to get us there and to have a guy like that to be able to take us home, we’re in a great place.”

It was a team effort for Milwaukee as the Rockets, one of the best defensive teams in the league, bogged down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, forcing the star into 9 of 17 shooting for 20 points while creating 16 turnovers for 24 points. Antetokounmpo had eight turnovers as the Rockets used their length to get in passing lanes and some creative defense to draw offensive fouls.

But Lopez recorded his first double-double of the season while racking up a game-high 27 points. He was elite on the defensive end and contributed seven steals-plus-blocks. Lopez also logged five three-pointers for the second time in his last three games. He did leave the game for a bit after a big fall but was able to return so should be OK for Wednesday. In the past three games, the 7-footer is averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.4% overall and 52.4% from deep.

Gary Trent Jr.

Trent Jr. provided a boost off the bench on Monday with 12 points, two rebounds, one steal and four 3-pointers. Trent has been incredibly disappointing in his first season with the Bucks, but he is starting to get it going. He has scored in double figures in three straight games and averaged 11 points, two steals and three triples during that stretch.

Khris Middleton

The Bucks remain without former All-Star Middleton, who has yet to debut this season due to offseason surgeries. He won’t debut on Wednesday. Andre Jackson and Taurean Prince have had increased roles in Middleton’s absence. Despite an 0-for-3 shooting performance from beyond the arc Monday, Prince has still shot an impressive 13-for-25 from deep across his last five outings.

The block and the bucket.

This angle of the game-winning sequence. pic.twitter.com/dRDwoDdjJP

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 19, 2024

The Stats

After holding Houston to a season-low 100 points on Monday, Milwaukee is allowing 108.8 points per game in November (sixth in NBA) and has a 110.6 defensive rating (seventh) compared to allowing 112.6 points (16th in NBA) and a 112.7 defensive rating (15th) overall this year.

How to Watch and Bet Bulls at Bucks Odds

When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Fiserv Forum
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+

Bulls vs Bucks Season Series

Chicago leads 1-0 as it was an upset winner in Milwaukee on Oct. 25, 133-122. Coby White had 35 points, Zach LaVine 25 and Nikola Vucevic 22 for the Bulls, who shot 21 of 47 from 3-point range. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 38 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Damian Lillard had 28 points, but only went 3 of 12 from deep. After the first three minutes of the third quarter featured five lead changes, the Bulls broke a 72-all tie and pulled ahead for good by scoring seven straight points. The Bucks have still won six of the past 10 in the series.

NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️

▪️ ORL gets win #9
▪️ LAC, NYK each reach 8 wins

Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/wV1YsrFUXw pic.twitter.com/aZTAECQ04b

— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2024

NBA Betting Center

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