Knicks vs Bulls: the line, records and the injuries that mattered

Why the game was searched

The Knicks and Bulls met at the United Center on Wednesday, October 28, at 8pm ET [1] [2]. Both came in at 1-3. New York ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference and Chicago 11th [3]. Most of the searches were driven by the injury news and the betting line. The line had New York as 7.5-point favorites, with a total of 234 points [3].

Injuries and form

For Chicago, Nic Claxton was out with a hamstring injury, and Tobe Awaka (ankle) and Patrick Williams (groin) were day-to-day and listed as questionable [3] [1]. New York's main concern was Jose Alvarado, who was listed out with an ankle injury [3].

The stat lines show where the offence would come from. Jalen Brunson averages 22.8 points per game for the Knicks, OG Anunoby averages 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns adds 14.0 rebounds a game [1]. In New York's most recent logged game, Towns scored 27 points with 20 rebounds [3]. For Chicago, Caleb Wilson averages 21.0 points and 1.5 blocks, Matas Buzelis adds 14.0 points and 4.2 rebounds, and Josh Giddey adds 7.3 assists per game [1].

The Bulls' shooting was a weak spot. They were making 23.8% of their three-pointers, last in the NBA [3]. The Knicks had won three straight against Chicago and six of the last ten meetings [3]. Against the spread, both teams were 1-3, and the totals told a different story. Chicago had gone over the total in three of their four games, while New York had stayed under in all four [3].

Defence and the season series

Defence is where the two teams differ most. Chicago's defensive rating of 120.2 ranked 27th in the league, while New York's 107.9 ranked seventh [5]. Tyler Kolek had taken on more playmaking for New York, with nine assists and no turnovers in 15 minutes against Orlando [4]. Alvarado missed the last two games, the loss to Orlando and the 111-97 win over Detroit, and with him out, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet could absorb more backcourt minutes [4].

The season series also favoured New York. Last season the Knicks won three of four meetings with Chicago [5]. Josh Giddey scored a career-high 32 points in the Bulls' only win in that series, a 135-125 game [5]. Pre-game odds listed New York at -270 on the moneyline, with the spread at 7.5 points [5].

What to watch next

The first question was whether Awaka and Williams would play, because Chicago were already without Claxton. The second was whether the Bulls could improve their perimeter shooting, which had been the league's worst. The previews were written before tipoff and do not report the final score, so the result is not part of this piece. Once the box score is final, compare the numbers with the season averages above.