This is arguably the best game on the schedule this Saturday. It’s the Chicago Bulls going up against the top team in the Western Conference in the form of the Golden State Warriors. Which of these two teams will snatch a win at Chase Center?

Catch this game live on Saturday, November 13, at 11 AM, Manila time.

Away: Chicago Bulls (8-3/3-1 on the road)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Lonzo Ball
  • SG: Zach LaVine
  • SF: Javonte Green
  • PF: DeMar DeRozan
  • C: Tony Bradley

Are the Bulls for real? Whichever way you are leaning on about Chicago, what’s undeniable is that the Bulls have just beaten two legitimate title contenders in back-to-back fashion, heading into the date with the Warriors. After consecutive losses to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bulls have come alive again with wins over the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks last Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. In their 117-107 win against the Mavs, Zach LaVine put up 23 points, while Lonzo Ball chipped in 21 points to go with six rebounds and six assists. 

A largely overlooked reason why the Bulls are having so much success this season is their discipline. They are averaging the least turnovers per game (12.4) in the league. That doesn’t sound good for Golden State, which is sixth in the NBA with 19.7 points off turnovers per contest. The Bulls will not have big man Nikola Vucevic (medical protocol) though, so there’s a gaping hole in the middle for Chicago against the Warriors.

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Home: Golden State Warriors (10-1/7-1 at home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Stephen Curry
  • SG: Jordan Poole
  • SF: Andrew Wiggins
  • PF: Draymond Green (questionable)
  • C: Kevon Looney

To beat the Warriors, a team should be at its best, and it’s hard to say that Chicago is in its best form with Nikola Vucevic sidelined. However, Golden State might also be down a key player this Saturday after Draymond Green exited their 123-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a right thigh contusion. He is currently considered day-to-day, but if he can’t go, at least the Warriors have a healthy Stephen Curry and a red-hot Andrew Wiggins to take care of business at home. 

Curry scored 25 points against Minnesota, while Wiggins exploded for 35. On the season, Curry is leading the Warriors with 27.4 points per game while shooting 38.5% from deep. The Warriors are also the highest-scoring team, so far. They are generating 115.9 points per contest, thanks to their abilities to make shots from deep at a high rate and spark transition attacks (No. 1 in fastbreak points per game) for easy baskets.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread:

The Bulls are without Vucevic, but that can allow Chicago to roll out smaller lineups to counter Golden State’s speed on the open court. Take the Bulls (+5).

Over/Under:

The Warriors are scoring a ton of late because they have been picking on teams with defenses as sturdy as a wet paper bag. The same can’t be said about Chicago. Take the Under (221.5).