Get your Christmas day started off with a little NBA action, as the New York Knicks are set to host the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is set for 12:00 ET and will be aired on ESPN. Our NBA spreads indicate that the Knicks are 1.5-point favorites over the Bulls with the total set at 206.5.
New York won 120-112 in the first meeting between these two teams back on Nov. 4, thanks to lights out shooting from Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton. Gallinari led New York with 24 points, making 4-4 from downtown, and Felton added 20 points and shot 4-6 from three-point range.
The Knicks shot 66.7 percent as a team from behind the arc. Chicago did hold Amar'e Stoudemire to just 14 points on five of 21 shooting and would like to see him struggle again this time around.
Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 24 points and also had a game-high 14 assists. Joakim Noah had 12 points and 13 rebounds, but will not be in action Saturday, as he continues to recover from a thumb injury. The Bulls were without Carlos Boozer in the first meeting and he figures to play a huge role in this game, as the Bulls have won nine of 12 since he returned to the lineup.
The Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive 112-98 win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Stoudemire led six Knicks in double figures with 23 points and has now failed to reach the 30 point plateau in his last three games, since recording nine straight over an 8-1 stretch.
The Bulls played back to back games on Tuesday and Wednesday, beating Philadelphia at home 121-76 and Washington 87-80 on the road. Chicago has allowed just two teams to reach the 100-point mark during their 9-1 run, but will most likely have to outscore the Knicks in this one. New York is averaging 108 points this season and the 120 points they scored against Chicago is the most the Bulls have allowed this season.
While Rose, Boozer and Stoudemire will get most of the attention in this game, I think it will come down to which bench plays better. Chicago has struggled at times without Rose on the floor and how they play while he rests will be a big key for them winning this game.
New York showed they can beat the Bulls without a big game from Stoudemire, but I think he needs to have a big game for the Knicks to win. It's unlikely the Knicks shoot as well as they did in the first game from outside and the Bulls really don't have anyone that matches up well with Stoudemire with Noah out.
I give the edge to the Bulls in this one, making them an easy play at plus-1.5. I think Rose will be the difference maker in this game, as he has the ability to score from all over the court. New York doesn't play much defense, which will allow Rose to get off to a good start and take control of this game.
For more help with whom to take in the NBA this season, check out what our expert NBA handicappers have to offer in their daily NBA picks.
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