The Denver Nuggets welcome back MVP Nikola Jokic from his ankle injury just in time for a crucial matchup against a surging Chicago Bulls squad that's fresh off dropping 146 points on the Lakers.
While the Nuggets aim to solidify their position in the Western Conference's top three, the Bulls bring their explosive offense - ranked sixth in NBA scoring - to Ball Arena, setting up what could be a high-scoring showdown given both teams' defensive struggles this season.
The home team Nuggets, leading the NBA in field goal percentage, look to leverage their size advantage and Jokic's court vision against an away team Bulls defense that's allowing the second-most points in the league.
Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Denver Nuggets vs Chicago Bulls matchup, our predictive model gives the Nuggets a 69.33% chance of defeating the Bulls.
Pre-game probabilities
Denver Nuggets
Moneyline
Win %
69.33%
30.67%
Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets: 69.33% win probability
- Elite offensive output (8691 points scored, highest in Western Conference)
- Strong win record (45 wins in 72 games, 3rd in Western Conference)
- Home court advantage (7-3 better home record than Bulls' away record)
Chicago Bulls: 30.67% win probability
- Poor defensive record (8502 points against, 4th worst in Eastern Conference)
- Inconsistent road performance (31-40 overall record, bottom half of East)
- Scoring differential issues (-185 point differential on the season)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts..
| Denver Nuggets | Chicago Bulls | |
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Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls preview
The Denver Nuggets are getting a massive boost with MVP Nikola Jokic's return to the lineup after a four-game absence, just in time for Monday's clash with the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena.
Chicago's coming in hot off an eye-popping 146-point explosion against the Lakers, with Cody White dropping 36 and Josh Giddey flirting with a quadruple-double - but they'll face a much different beast in Denver's league-leading offense.
The contrast in styles here is fascinating: Chicago's been lighting it up from beyond the arc (ranking third in three-pointers made), while Denver's been dominating inside thanks to their league-best field goal percentage.
The Joker's return couldn't come at a better time for Denver, who've struggled to a 1-2 record without their floor general and desperately need to maintain their position in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
While the Bulls' offense has been clicking lately, winning seven of their last ten, their 29th-ranked defense could be in serious trouble against Denver's precision attack.
Aaron Gordon's been holding down the fort in Jokic's absence, including a recent 26-point performance, but he'll gladly slide back into his natural role with the big Serbian running the show.
With both teams ranking in the NBA's top-8 for scoring margin and turnover margin, expect a fast-paced showdown that'll test Chicago's shaky defense against Denver's surgical offense.
The Nuggets' home court advantage at Ball Arena, combined with Jokic's return and their push for Western Conference positioning, sets up what should be a compelling Monday night matchup.
Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls form
Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls head to head
Denver Nuggets
67%
Chicago Bulls
33%
Jan 28, 2025
Chicago Bulls
129 : 121
Denver Nuggets
Dec 13, 2023
Chicago Bulls
106 : 114
Denver Nuggets
Nov 5, 2023
Denver Nuggets
123 : 101
Chicago Bulls
Oct 16, 2023
Denver Nuggets
116 : 102
Chicago Bulls
Oct 13, 2023
Chicago Bulls
133 : 124
Denver Nuggets
Mar 9, 2023
Denver Nuggets
96 : 117
Chicago Bulls
