When the Sacramento Kings travel to Chicago to take on the Derrick Rose-less Bulls, it will be a closer game than people are anticipating. As good as Chi-town has been, the Kings have some real talent.

Add into the fact that without Rose the Bulls are just an average team and this matchup has upset written all over it.

Which Team Will Steal the Win?

Submit Vote vote to see results

 

Where: United Center, Chicago, IL

When: Tuesday, February 14, 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Not Nationally Televised

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: ESPN Radio

 

Betting Line: Covers

Over/Under: 187, Spread: Chicago -12

This is a game where the top scorer on the Bulls is out and neither team is playing all that great where the under seems like the safe bet. While the Bulls are the better team, the loss of Rose will not allow them to cover this spread, so I would take the Kings with the points.

 

137992337_crop_340x234 Rob Carr/Getty Images

Injuries: CBS Sports

Bulls

Richard Hamilton, Out

Derrick Rose, Out

Kings

None

 

What They’re Saying

Bulls’ insider Carlos Douglas Jr. is reporting on twitter:

Pic_original
Pic2_original

 

Key Matchup: Luol Deng vs. J.J. Hickson or John Salmons

136123396_crop_340x234 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

With the absence of the Bulls leading scorer Derrick Rose, most of the scoring responsibility will fall to the shoulders of small forward Luol Deng. With just 14.2 points per game over the time Rose has been out, the Bulls need Deng to play better if they want to win.

The Kings will do their best to stifle the shooter with the duo of John Salmons and J.J. Hickson. While neither is a true small forward, they both have qualities that will keep Deng off balance and the ball out of the hoop.

Prediction: Bulls 95, Kings 86

 

Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NBA Page to get your fill of all things basketball.