Chicago Bulls vs Denver Nuggets 11/19/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream
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Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets Matchup Preview (11/19/21)
The Vucevic-less Chicago Bulls (10-5) will head to Denver to face the Nuggets (9-5) in Ball Arena. While the Bulls will be without Nikola Vucevic, Denver has it much worse. The Nuggets have several key players missing, including Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, and Will Barton. Those are three of their five best players who are out with injuries. Still, an unbelievable start to the 2021-22 NBA season by last year’s MVP, Nikola Jokic, has kept the Denver Nuggets competitive with a 9-5 record. Meanwhile, Chicago has been one of the biggest surprises this season, with DeMar DeRozan looking the best he ever has and LaVine continuing to see just how high his ceiling goes. The additions that the Bulls have made have catapulted them into the upper-echelon of NBA teams. Chicago needs to limit Jokic’s impact on the game to grab a road win in Denver. While it is only 15 games into the Nuggets’ 2021-22 season, Jokic has the highest PER (player efficiency rating) of all time. If he maintains that, it would be hard to imagine him not winning his second straight MVP award. The Nuggets need to shoot the ball well from behind the arc and lockdown on defense. If they can contain LaVine and DeRozan, then the Nuggets could get another home win.
Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds
This will be an interesting game. While Nikola Jokic will likely be guarded by Tony Bradley, which should yield terrific results and numbers for Jokic, the Bulls have advantages at every other position on the floor. I like starting Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Zach LaVine simultaneously; it is a powerful small-ball lineup. I like the Bulls to squeak out a win, but I can’t imagine either team wins by more than a few points. Keep an eye on the spread, and if it gets too wide, punch the underdog.
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TV Schedule
Date: 11/19/21
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Arena: Ball Arena – Denver, CO
Channel: NBA League Pass
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Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup
PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Alex Caruso
SF: Zach LaVine
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Tony Bradley
Chicago Bulls Analysis
The Chicago Bulls have looked like a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference despite many people thinking this team would not mesh together well. Currently, they are 10-5 but have lost a few games recently that could be partially attributed to the loss of their big man, Nikola Vucevic, due to COVID. Vucevic’s presence is significant as he is one of the premier bigs in the league and contributes the majority of rebounding and inside scoring to this Bulls team. The resurgence of DeMar DeRozan has also been one of the highlights of the 2021-22 season. DeRozan looks like one of the best players in the league and is averaging 26.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 51/37.1/87.3 shooting splits. His career 3P% (three-point percentage) is 28.3%, to give you an idea of how well he has been shooting the ball. He is still one of the best mid-range scorers in the NBA and has expanded to the three-point line, which will frustrate defenders. We have seen this fact with several 30-40 point outbursts from DeRozan so far this season.
Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup
PG: Monte Morris
SG: Austin Rivers
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets Analysis
Denver is another team that has dealt with a substantial amount of injuries to key players. Last season, Jamal Murray tore his ACL, and his return is still undetermined. Now, the Nuggets are dealing with nagging back injuries to both Michael Porter Jr and Will Barton. The injuries have caused some chemistry and shooting struggles as Denver ranks 28th in 3P% (three-point percentage). To give you an idea of how much the Nuggets are struggling from behind the arc, Jokic is shooting 38.6% on just shy of five attempts per game. If you take away his hot perimeter shooting, everyone else is combining for less than 30%, which would rank basically dead-last with the Detroit Pistons. The Nuggets desperately need Porter Jr, Barton, and Murray healthy to make a deep run in the playoffs; however, in the meantime, they are surviving off of tenacious defense.
Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets Daily Fantasy Picks
DeMar DeRozan has looked amazing this season, averaging 26.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 51/37.1/87.3 shooting splits. DeRozan is shooting the ball better than ever, and his career resurgence has made the Chicago Bulls a legitimate championship contender in the Eastern Conference. His three-point shooting used to be a serious weakness, but he has knocked some down this season, which has forced defenders to contest on the perimeter, giving DeRozan the ability to blow by them. Stick him in your lineup while he is red hot and shooting very well from all over the floor.
With Jamal Murray still out and Michael Porter Jr and Will Barton dealing with back injuries, Monte Morris should be one of the main contributors in the Denver Nuggets’ offense. Morris has been playing through an injury for a few weeks but apparently feels much better now. As he continues to get acclimated to starting at point guard for the Nuggets, Morris’s numbers should improve. Right now, he is averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game but has not shot the ball particularly well. Morris has proven before that he can shoot the ball, so this is more of a slump than anything. He should be able to increase in all areas as he continues to become healthier and gain confidence.
