It’s an interconference tilt on the parquet floor as a pair of teams take the floor in search of a win in the Mile-High City. The Chicago Bulls are on the road as they make the trip to face the Denver Nuggets Saturday night. Chicago was in action at home against Brooklyn Friday night in the front game of a back-to-back situation that ends here. The Bulls were beaten 114-105 on the road by Dallas in their previous game Wednesday night, falling to cover the line as a 3.5-point underdog. Denver was at home against Dallas Friday night in the front half of their own back-to-back set. The Nuggets were whipped 110-89 by Minnesota in their previous contest, losing outright as a two-point favorite Wednesday night. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Nuggets own a 56-43 advantage but it was the Bulls taking a 117-96 road win in the most recent matchup on March 8, 2023.

Chicago Bulls Looking to Earn Road Win

Chicago was in action at home Friday night against the Nets in the front half of their back-to-back set that comes to a close here. The Bulls entered Friday 2-3 on the season and stood tied for third in the Central Division, half a game behind the Pacers and the Bucks for the top spot. Chicago struggled in the second game of their lone back-to-back situation this season, falling 118-102 to the Pistons on the road on October 28. The Bulls are 1-2 on the road this season with a -6-ppg scoring differential (106.3 ppg for, 112.3 ppg against) to this point of the year. Chicago is 0-2 against Western Conference teams with a -14.5-ppg scoring margin (104.5 ppg for, 119 ppg against) this season.

For the year, Chicago stands 25^th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 105.4 points per contest. The Bulls are 25^th in rebounding as they collect an average of 42.6 boards a night while they are 29^th in assists by handing out an average of 19.6 dimes per contest. Chicago is 17^th in scoring defense as they allow an average of 112.8 points per game this season. Zach LaVine is leading the team with 24 points per contest on the year. DeMar DeRozan contributes 21.8 points, 3.4 rebounds plus four assists a night while Nikola Vucevic (15.8 points, 12.4 rebounds) and Ayo Dosunmu each are valuable options. Alex Caruso, Coby White, Andre Drummond, Torrey Craig, Jevon Carter and Patrick Williams are looked at to provide valuable minutes as well. As a team, Chicago is 28^th in the league in field goal percentage as they knock down 42.6% of their shots on the year. The Bulls are 28^th in the league by knocking down 9.6 three-pointers per contest while they stand 28^th by hitting 30.2% of their attempts from beyond the arc on the year.

Lonzo Ball (knee) has yet to take the floor this season and hasn’t played since January 14, 2022. He has been shut down for the remainder of the season.

Denver Nuggets Try to Bounce Back at Home

Denver was at home against Dallas Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back set as they looked to bounce back from their first loss of the season. The Nuggets entered Friday 4-1 on the season and held a one-game lead over the Thunder for the top spot in the Northwest Division standings. Denver was victorious in the second game of their lone back-to-back situation this season, dropping the Jazz 110-102 at home October 30. The Nuggets are 2-0 at home this season with a +10-ppg scoring margin (114.5 ppg for, 104.5 ppg against) this season. Denver faces an Eastern Conference foe for the first time this season in this contest.

On the year, Denver is 18^th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 110.8 points per game this season. The Nuggets are 23^rd in rebounding by collecting 43.2 boards per contest while they are 3^rd by dishing out an average of 29 assists a night. Denver stands 3^rd in scoring defense as they give up an average of 103.6 points a night. Nikola Jokic is leading the team in scoring with 26.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists a night this season. Jamal Murray (18.8 points, 7.8 assists), Aaron Gordon (11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), Michael Porter Jr. (10.8 points, eight rebounds) and Christian Braun (eight points) each are solid scoring options. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (9.8 points), Peyton Watson, Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji and Julian Strawther are among the other players that coach Michael Malone calls on in the rotation. The Nuggets are 1^st in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 50.8% from the floor. Denver is 25^th as they connect on 10.8 three-pointers a night while the team is 18^th as they knock down 34% of their attempts from beyond the arc.