The NBA Cup group stage is done and dusted, and we’re back to the regular season. We’ve got eight games on Saturday including the Pistons against the surprise-packet Heat, while Josh Giddey will look to record another triple double in Indiana.
Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
The Bulls started the season on fire but they’ve been really poor lately. In fact, in November Chicago has the seventh worst net rating in the NBA resulting in them plummeting down the Eastern Conference standings.
The Pacers are even worse though with a 3-16 record and a swag of injuries to key players. That being said, they enter this off the back of smashing the Wizards and on their home floor are a nice price as underdogs.
LEG 1 - Bennedict Mathurin Under 24.5 Points
I know Andrew Nembhard is questionable for this contest as Indiana enters off no rest, but it’s still a big line for Mathurin.
Mathurin started the season on fire for Indiana, but has slowed down recently with his average dropping to 22.6 points per game.
The wing has failed to score 25+ points in his last five games where he’s averaged 18.8 points over this stretch, so happy to back the unders here.
LEG 2 - Josh Giddey 8+ Rebounds
Averaging just under 10 rebounds per game this season, Josh Giddey overall numbers have eased off slightly since his hot start where he had the Bulls on top of the East, but his rebound numbers remain strong.
Giddey has hit 8+ rebounds in 12 of his last 15 games, and the Pacers are one of the easier teams for point guards to rebound against this season at 19% above average. Won’t be an issue here.
LEG 3 - Nikola Vucevic Under 17.5 Points
He has these games where he goes huge including what he did against the Wizards two starts back with 28 points, but Vucevic only averages 14.5 points over his last ten games which is a truer indication of his level.
During this stretch, Vucevic has only covered 17.5 points in three of those games, and although the Pacers aren’t great they’ve got enough defensive bigs on their roster that can do a job here.
SAME GAME MULTI
Mathurin Under 24.5 Points / Giddey 8+ Rebounds / Vucevic Under 17.5 Points = $4.33
VALUE BET
Josh Giddey Triple Double @ $3.70
He’s a genuine triple double threat every time he steps on the court these days.
Josh Giddey is averaging 20.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.4 assists this season, and with how Indiana concedes rebounds to point guards he should comfortably hit 10+ rebounds here.
The Australian was one assist shy on Saturday against Charlotte in just 33 minutes, and three starts back recorded one against the Wizards. I like this price for a player that’s so close each time he steps on the floor.
