Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards

Spread: WAS -6.5

O/U: 237

Tip-off: 5:05 PM EST

Injuries:

Bulls

Wizards

  • None

PACE (the number of possessions a team uses per game)

Bulls rank 1st in pace (109.2)

Wizards rank 3rd in pace (106.8)
 

MVP/CPT

Russell Westbrook , PG ($16,800)

Considering we just saw the outcome of this match-up the other day, it’s hard not to go right back to the well with Westbrook here. He’s been as elite as they come to start the year notching three straight triple-doubles and 57+ DK points in each game. This game environment suits Westbrook so well considering both teams are top three in pace, so he’ll be grabbing rebounds and getting up the floor quickly, looking to set his teammates up or looking to get to the rim. He has the highest ceiling in this game.

Zach LaVine , SG ($13,500)

After two duds to start the year, LaVine has looked fantastic in his last two games with one of them coming against this same Wizards team. He’s done more peripherally, which is what has capped his upside in the past because we know he’s going to get his points on a nightly basis. The Bulls are without Lauri Markkanen tonight and when he’s been off the floor, LaVine has posted a 33.7% USG and 1.26 FP/min, both leading the team by a wide margin. 

Bradley Beal , SG ($16,200)

I’m spending all the way up at the captain spot on this slate because the ceilings on these three specifically aren’t ceilings that the rest of the ancillary pieces in this game can get to. Beal has already gone for 58 FP in a game this season and is averaging 32.5 actual PPG to boot. He left the game for a little bit the last time these two teams met and still put up 42.5 FP. He’s as elite of a scorer as they come and he could go for 40 actual and nobody would blink.

Mid-Tier

Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF ($6,400)

With Lauri Markkanen ruled out, Porter is expected to step into a much bigger role for the Bulls on Thursday. He played 29 minutes his last time out -- a season high --and scored 16 actual points, another season best. With Markkanen out, the Bulls will lack some rebounding up front and Porter can fill that void and he's averaging 5.0 RPG this season. Washington is 21st in rebounding, so maybe we could see Porter flirt with a double-double.

Davis Bertans , PF ($6,200)

We saw Bertans minutes see an uptick as he registered 26 minutes against the Bulls last time out and he turned in his best performance of the year scoring 20 actual points and 31 DK points. Bertans was a monster for Washington last year and being able to space the floor with a guy like Russell Westbrook always looking to set shooters up is the perfect fit. He’ll continue to play more and more each game and once he’s getting 30 minutes a night, look out. That could honestly happen here.

Coby White , PG ($7,200)

Both backup point-guards for the Bulls have been ruled out of this game, so the 36 and 37 minutes that White has played the last two games could actually be on the rise in this contest. In those two games, White has put up 33.35 and 36.75 DK points. White’s USG with Tomas Satoransky and Lauri Markkanen is disappointing (15%) but somehow he’s still managed to average .84 FP/min even with that low mark in the usage department. White is a solid GPP option here.

Value Tier

Thaddeus Young , PF ($3,800)

Although Young didn’t play a single minute during the first game back from a leg infection, things are a little different here with Lauri Markkanen and Chandler Hutchison both ruled out due to covid protocols. The Bulls front-court depth has taken a major hit here and considering it’s just a leg infection that kept Young out, he should be ready to go and contribute and whatever capacity the Bulls need him at.

Deni Avdija, SF/PF ($5,600)

So with Rui Hachimura returning from injury, Avdija shifts over from PF to SF in the starting lineup, but is starting nevertheless. We love to see the confidence Washington has had in their first-round pick as he’s averaging 26.2 MPG through four games and has put up 27+ DK points in two straight. He does a lot peripherally and if the scoring ever comes around, we’re talking a guy with 40-point upside.