Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
Before returning to California, the Los Angeles Clippers will play an away match at the United Center against another Eastern Conference team, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have lost six of their last seven games but still occupy the 10th position in the play-in zone.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls ended a six-game losing streak with a 142:110 win over the injury-hit Philadelphia 76ers, although we do not consider this result as indicating a clear turnaround. Overall, the situation for the Bulls remains poor, particularly with their starting unit, which includes Lithuanian rookie Matas Buzelis receiving considerable minutes. In their last seven games, the two variations of the starting lineup have produced a combined -57 point differential.
Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard is set to return to the Los Angeles Clippers’ starting five, which will be a key factor for the visitors. The Clippers have struggled on this road trip mainly due to defensive issues that have resulted in a high number of shooting fouls conceded. With Leonard in the team, opponents’ free-throw attempts drop from 25.2 to 16.9 per 100 field goal attempts. Offensively, although James Harden is no longer able to manage the entire offensive load alone, the team’s performance improves significantly with Leonard in the lineup.
Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Clippers Prediction
The defensive ratings of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls differ by 21 places. Even if James Harden struggles from beyond the arc again, as seen in their previous game against the Detroit Pistons, Kawhi Leonard’s effective defence and reliable shooting should secure a comfortable advantage. We expect the visitors to win confidently.
