The sixth of Sunday NBA Week 9 matches is between Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls. The game is set to commence at 12:10pm with the game to be played at United Center. Away team Dallas Mavericks go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls.
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When: 12:10 | Sunday 29/12/2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
Dallas Mavericks $1.81 vs Chicago Bulls $2.16 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Dallas Mavericks $1.75 vs Chicago Bulls $2.10 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Dallas Mavericks | 1.81 | 1.74 | 1.75 | 1.74 | 1.81 | 1.74 |
|
Chicago Bulls
|
2.16 | 2.15 | 2.10 | 2.15 | 2.16 | 2.10 |
Teams:
Dallas Mavericks:
| Num | Player |
|---|---|
| 41 | Dirk Nowitzki |
| 1 | Samuel Dalembert |
| 0 | Shawn Marion |
| 11 | Monta Ellis |
| 8 | Jose Calderon |
| 25 | Vince Carter |
| 34 | Brandan Wright |
| 9 | Jae Crowder |
| 5 | Bernard James |
| 21 | Wayne Ellington |
| 3 | Shane Larkin |
| 7 | Ricky Ledo |
| 33 | Gal Mekel |
| 20 | Devin Harris |
| 45 | DeJuan Blair |
| Num | Player |
|---|---|
| 5 | Carlos Boozer |
| 21 | Jimmy Butler |
| 9 | Luol Deng |
| 34 | Mike Dunleavy |
| 22 | Taj Gibson |
| 12 | Kirk Hinrich |
| 8 | Mike James |
| 48 | Nazr Mohammed |
| 31 | Erik Murphy |
| 13 | Joakim Noah |
| 1 | Derrick Rose |
| 20 | Tony Snell |
| 25 | Marquis Teague |
Preview:
With their defense back on track and overall health improving, the Chicago Bulls are on the verge of their longest winning streak in more than a month.
The Dallas Mavericks are looking to tighten things up following their worst defensive stretch of the season.
The Bulls hope to have leading scorer Luol Deng back as they seek their third straight win Saturday night while the visiting Mavericks try to avoid their fourth loss in five games.
Chicago (11-16) couldn’t contain two of the top-scoring teams in the league, surrendering a total of 216 points on 52.4 percent shooting – including 17 of 37 from 3-point range – in double-digit losses at Houston and Oklahoma City last week.
The Bulls, however, bounced back by limiting Cleveland and Brooklyn to a combined 162 points, 37.9 percent shooting and 9 of 35 from beyond the arc in their last two victories. They held the Nets to season lows in points and shooting percentage (35.2) in a 95-78 road win on Christmas Day.
Chicago welcomed back starters Kirk Hinrich (back) and Jimmy Butler (ankle) in Wednesday’s win.
Deng, though, is likely to be a game-time decision after missing three straight and seven of the past 10 because of an Achilles injury. The two-time All-Star, averaging a team-high 19.6 points, has scored 23.0 per game with nine 3-pointers in his last three against the Mavericks (16-13).
“It’s coming around,” coach Tom Thibodeau told the team’s official website. “It’s good to get guys back.”
Though they haven’t won three in a row since a five-game run from Nov. 8-18, the injury-ravaged Bulls remain one of the league’s top defensive clubs with 92.7 points allowed per game on 42.8 percent shooting.
The Mavericks have had trouble scoring in recent visits to the United Center, averaging 79.3 points while shooting 36.5 percent during their three-game skid in Chicago. But they’re playing well offensively heading into this meeting, averaging 107.5 points on 49.5 percent shooting over their last six.
Dirk Nowitzki leads Dallas with 21.6 points per game after finishing with a game-high 25 in a 116-107 loss to visiting San Antonio on Thursday. He had 35 points on 14-of-17 shooting – including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left – in a 100-98 home win over the Bulls on March 30.
The Mavericks could be getting Brandan Wright back after he missed Thursday’s game because of an undisclosed illness. Wright, who missed the first 23 games while recovering from a fractured shoulder, has averaged 12.2 points on 25-of-34 shooting with nine blocked shots in the five games he’s played.
Dallas could use any help it can get on the defensive end after allowing 113.0 points and 46.5 percent shooting from 3-point range while dropping three of four.
“It’s just giving up too many points,” Nowitzki told the team’s official website. “It’s tough and puts a lot of pressure on our offense.”
The Bulls have averaged 96.0 points and shot 46.8 percent over their previous four games following a six-game stretch in which they averaged 79.5 points while shooting a dreadful 36.1 percent.
Taj Gibson has provided a spark with 16.3 points per game in his past four, while D.J. Augustin has averaged 15.3 points while making 9 for 17 from beyond the arc in his last three.
The Bulls are seeking their fifth win in six meetings.
Source: www.nba.com