Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls – 11/20/16 NBA Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Blake Griffin scored a team-high 26 points while Chris Paul chipped in with 19 and Marreese Speights scored all 16 of his points in the second half as the Clippers rallied from a double-digit deficit to win through 102-95. For the Bulls to get past both the Trailblazers and Jazz on the road without him is remarkable. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, making 11 of 12 free throws. But the Lakers were also prone to long bouts of ineptitude and the Bulls had Butler to take advantage. He finished with four points, 12 assists and nine rebounds Sunday.

James Johnson had 17 points off the bench for Miami, which scored its most points this season and got its first back-to-back wins.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I could help this organization and help Jimmy”, Wade told the Chicago Sun-Times. Butler would get those 40 without a three pointer and one attempt. The Bulls had a commanding 56-37 rebounding lead and shot 51.7 percent. “But I also know what I’m capable of because of the way I work”. Young hit a 3-pointer to put LA up 78-71 midway through the third period, with LA looking poised to finish off the Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back. He grabbed 38 points and six assists in the win against Portland on November 18 and had 38 points and 16 rebounds in the overtime win over Charlotte on November 19. During the last minute of the game, the usually even keel Bulls’ coach was accessed two technical fouls (courtesy of ESPN) and was ejected. While that question will likely be answered within the next month or so, let us take a look at a few players whose early season performances seem to reveal much about the direction of the team. And even though the Dunking Duo are spectacular on the offensive end of the floor on screen and rolls, or off of lops after dribble penetration by the guards they lack the bulk to affect any premier players in the post or on the perimeter and that’s what makes them good second unit players.

Walton made that decision after the former Golden State assistant saw Warriors coach Steve Kerr receive effective results last season. Doug McDermott (concussion) and Michael Carter-Williams (knee) are still out. “He’s playing with a lot more confidence”. Although the Lakers shot 41.9 percent from three-point range, struggled to move the ball on the inside.

“When you win games on nights like this”, Rivers said, “you feel good”. “I spent the whole summer rehabbing and once I could get on the court, doing my usual stuff? shooting, dribbling, ball-handling, all that. With our second-leading scorer out, I had to pick up the pace a little bit”. “You can’t just ask people to play defense and all of a sudden people start playing the right way the whole game”.

The Bulls made just one field goal over the final 6:30, keeping it close on seven consecutive free throws, including five by Butler.

Walton sounded fine with players asking officials to explain rulings, though he added, “I don’t want our guys complaining after every call”.