The battle for the top of the NBA Eastern Conference standings heats up on Saturday as the Brooklyn Nets play host to the Chicago Bulls. The Nets are coming off a 110-105 win over Minnesota on Friday, maintain their grip on first place in the East, 1.5 games up on Chicago. The Bulls travel to Barclays Center on the Heels of a 119-15 win over the New York Knicks, and are one of just five teams to record eight straight up wins on the road this season.

Backed by 85% of sports bettors, the Nets have emerged as 3-point home favourites in Saturday night’s clash. While the total has remain unchanged since opening at 220.0, the OVER has emerged as the choice of sports bettors, attracting 76% of wagers.

Bulls vs. Nets NBA Betting Odds

Saturday night’s matchup marks the second of three regular season meetings between these two teams this season. The Bulls romped to a 118-95 win as 1-point home chalk when Brooklyn visited back on November 8. However, it has been the Nets that have produced consistent winning results in head-to-head action, going 11-3 straight up in 14 overall clashes since the start of the 2017/2018 NBA campaign. That run includes a 6-1 straight up record on home court, capped by a lopsided 105-91 victory as 11-point favourites in mid-May.

The Nets have been somewhat of a disappointment when hosting the Bulls, covering in just two of their past five. However, they have won outright in eight of nine dates with the Bulls while favoured by four or fewer points, covering on seven occasions. While the OVER has gained backing from sports bettors, it is the UNDER that has paid out in six of the past seven clashes between these clubs.

Chicago Bulls

Demar DeRozan maintained the pace on Thursday night that has set him up for a career season. The 32-year-old piled up a game-high 32 points while lead the Bulls to a decisive victory at Madison Square Garden, and has now averaged 30 points and six rebounds over his past three outings.

Overall, DeRozan leads a revitalized Bulls attack that currently ranks fourth in the NBA with 109.5 points per game overall, and which has tallied 115.3 points per game during a 5-2 run on the road. DeRozan has enjoyed plenty of help from another veteran Nikola Vucevic. The 31-year-old big man has potted an average of 28.5 points during Chicago’s current 2-0 run, and recorded double-doubles in seven of his past 11 appearances.

Brooklyn Nets

The duo of Kevin Durant and James Harden have continued to lead the way during the 14-3 run that has lifted Brooklyn to the top of the conference. The duo combined to score 50 points in Friday’s victory over the Timberwolves. Durant also added 10 rebounds to record his seventh double-double of the season, while Harden has posted double-doubles in two of his past three outings, including a spectacular 34-point, 10-rebound performance in the team’s narrow 112-110 home win over the Knicks on Tuesday.

However, the duo struggled to generate offence in a 105-91 home win over Chicago last season, combining to score just 17 points in that contest.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Bulls vs. Nets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bulls Team Leaders

CHI

Points	DeMar DeRozan 27.87
Assists	Lonzo Ball 5.09
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.01
FG%	Mac McClung 100
Steals	Lonzo Ball 1.83
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.97

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 29.87
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.38
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.29
FG%	Nic Claxton 67.4
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.09

CHI

Points	DeMar DeRozan 20.8
Assists	Zach LaVine 6
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 12.4
FG%	Tony Bradley 100
Steals	Javonte Green 1.8
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 1.2

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.25
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.25
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 6.25
FG%	Nic Claxton 79.2
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.75
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.25

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

CHI

Points	DeMar DeRozan 27.87
Assists	Lonzo Ball 5.09
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.01
FG%	Mac McClung 100
Steals	Lonzo Ball 1.83
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.97

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 29.87
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.38
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.29
FG%	Nic Claxton 67.4
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.09

CHI

Points	DeMar DeRozan 20.8
Assists	Zach LaVine 6
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 12.4
FG%	Tony Bradley 100
Steals	Javonte Green 1.8
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 1.2

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.25
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.25
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 6.25
FG%	Nic Claxton 79.2
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.75
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.25

Injuries

Chicago

Alex Caruso (SG)

Out Mon Concussion - 24 / 04 / 22

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 22

Coby White (SG)

Ques Sun Toe - 09 / 04 / 22

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sun Back - 09 / 04 / 22

Javonte Green (SG)

Prob Wed Quadricep - 06 / 04 / 22

Alex Caruso (SG)

Out Fri Back - 06 / 04 / 22

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 06 / 04 / 22

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Tues Back - 03 / 04 / 22

Matt Thomas (SG)

Out Wed Leg - 02 / 04 / 22

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Tues Back - 29 / 03 / 22

Brooklyn

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 22 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 04 / 22

James Johnson (PF)

Ques Fri Illness - 04 / 04 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Tues Conditioning - 02 / 04 / 22

Bruce Brown (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 03 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 27 / 03 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sat Knee - 23 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alex Caruso (SG)	Out Mon	Concussion - 24 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Caruso is going through the concussion protocol, and he will not be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bucks.
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 22	3-3	2-4	+ -
Vucevic will not be available for Sunday's game versus the Timberwolves as he will be given a day of rest.
Coby White (SG)	Ques Sun	Toe - 09 / 04 / 22	3-3	2-4	+ -
White is battling a sprained left toe, and and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bucks.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sun	Back - 09 / 04 / 22	3-3	2-4	+ -
Caruso is dealing with a left lower-back contusion, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Bucks.
Javonte Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Quadricep - 06 / 04 / 22	3-5	3-5	+ -
Green is tending to a right quad contusion, but it is likely that he will be available for Wednesday's tilt against the Celtics.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Out Fri	Back - 06 / 04 / 22	3-5	3-5	+ -
Caruso sat out the last game managing a left lower-back contusion, and he will not be in Friday's lineup against the Hornets.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 06 / 04 / 22	3-5	3-5	+ -
Jones Jr. has a sore left knee, but it is anticipated that he will be active against the Celtics on Wednesday.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Tues	Back - 03 / 04 / 22	3-6	4-5	+ -
Caruso exited the previous contest due to back spasms, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Tuesday's matchup with the Bucks.
Matt Thomas (SG)	Out Wed	Leg - 02 / 04 / 22	4-6	5-5	+ -
Thomas is dealing with a right leg injury, and he will not face the Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Tues	Back - 29 / 03 / 22	5-7	5-7	+ -
Caruso is dealing with a left lower-back contusion, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Tuesday's contest against the Wizards.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Griffin is tending to a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will face the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Curry is dealing with left ankle soreness, but it is projected that he will be active in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In against the Cavaliers.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 22	3-3	2-4	+ -
Curry is tending to a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Cavaliers on Friday.
James Johnson (PF)	Ques Fri	Illness - 04 / 04 / 22	3-5	2-6	+ -
Johnson has missed the last two games due to an non-COVID-19 illness, and it is undetermined if he will take the floor against the Cavaliers on Friday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Tues	Conditioning - 02 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Dragic has cleared the league's health and safety protocol, and it is anticipated that he will line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In versus the Cavaliers.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Brown was held out of the last contest due to a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will be active for Tuesday's clash with the Rockets.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Curry has sat out the last two games with a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will face the Knicks on Wednesday.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 03 / 22	4-8	3-9	+ -
Curry is hindered by a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will be active against the Hornets on Sunday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 27 / 03 / 22	4-8	3-9	+ -
Dragic is dealing with a sore left knee, but it is expected that he will battle the Hornets on Sunday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 23 / 03 / 22	5-9	4-10	+ -
Dragic sat out the last contest with a sore left knee, but it is expected that he will battle the Heat on Saturday.