The Chicago Bulls travel to face the Denver Nuggets Monday night at Ball Arena, with tipoff set for 9:10 p.m. ET. We’re 14-point underdogs on the road against a Nuggets team riding a 7-game winning streak. Meanwhile, we’ve lost 5 straight. This might be the lowest point of our season.
Game Information
Date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Tipoff: 9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. MT
Location: Ball Arena, Denver
League: NBA
Betting Lines and Odds
Moneyline:
- Bulls: +614 (massive underdogs)
- Nuggets: -885 (overwhelming favorites)
Spread:
- Bulls: +14 (-107)
- Nuggets: -14 (-107)
Total: 240 points (Over -111 / Under -105)
Bulls in Complete Disaster Mode
Chicago sits at 4-6 in the last 10 games, riding a soul-crushing 5-game losing streak. We’re 5-4-1 against the spread with a 2-game ATS losing streak, meaning we’re not even covering the generous spreads we’ve been getting.
Bulls games have been high-scoring nightmares, going over 8 times and under just twice in the last 10, with 4 straight overs. We’re giving up points in bunches while struggling to keep pace offensively.
Nuggets Absolutely Dominant
Denver enters with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games, riding a blistering 7-game winning streak. Even more impressively, they’re 8-2 ATS with a 6-game ATS winning streak – they’re not just winning, they’re destroying spreads.
Nuggets games have leaned toward unders (4 overs, 6 unders) with their most recent game going under, suggesting elite defense and controlled pace.
Why 14 Points Feels About Right (Unfortunately)
The 14-point spread is brutal but honest. Denver is rolling with the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic, they’re at home at altitude, and we’re on a 5-game losing streak looking completely lost.
Bulls’ Nightmare Stretch
Five straight losses. We’ve gone from playoff hopefuls to a team that can’t buy a win. The confidence is shot, the execution is terrible, and we look like a team that’s given up.
Nuggets’ Championship Form
Denver is playing like the elite championship contender they are. Jokic is orchestrating everything, Jamal Murray is healthy and scoring, and their role players are executing perfectly.
Altitude and Mile High Advantage
Playing in Denver’s thin air affects visiting teams significantly. Legs get heavy in the fourth quarter, shots fall short, and the Nuggets exploit tired opponents. We’re already struggling – add altitude and this could get ugly.
Nikola Jokic Will Dominate
Let’s not sugarcoat this – Jokic is going to put up whatever stats he wants. Triple-double? Probably. 30+ points? Likely. Making our defense look silly? Guaranteed.
The reigning MVP is playing at an all-world level, and we have no one who can remotely slow him down. He’ll score inside, facilitate from the perimeter, and control every aspect of the game.
Betting Analysis
The Spread
Bulls +14 is the only bet worth considering. Yes, we’re terrible right now. Yes, Denver is elite. But 14 points is a lot of cushion. We should keep this within double digits even in a blowout loss.
The Moneyline
Bulls +614 means betting $100 to win $614. That sounds amazing until you realize we’d need a miracle to win this game. The odds accurately reflect our minuscule chance.
The Total
Over 240 aligns with our recent trend (4 straight overs) but contradicts Denver’s tendency toward unders. This creates uncertainty, though our porous defense suggests points will be scored.
Bulls’ Path to Not Getting Embarrassed
For us to cover the 14-point spread and maintain some dignity, we need:
- Survive the first quarter – Can’t spot them a 20-point lead early
- Limit Jokic somewhat – He’ll get his stats, but maybe keep it to 25 instead of 40
- Hit our threes – Need to stay competitive from deep
- Don’t quit – Show some pride even when down big
Bulls Fan Perspective
This is rock bottom. Five straight losses, traveling to Denver to face the best team in the West while they’re on a 7-game heater, getting 14 points on the road, and having our moneyline at +614.
I’m not even mad anymore – I’m just numb. We went from 6-3 and feeling like legitimate playoff contenders to 4-6 and looking like a lottery team. The collapse has been stunning in its speed and completeness.
Fourteen points feels about right, maybe even generous. Denver is that much better than us right now. Jokic will torture us for 40 minutes, their crowd will be rocking, and the altitude will make our legs feel like concrete by the third quarter.
The only question is whether we get blown out by 20+ or somehow keep it respectable and cover the spread. I’m not confident we can even do that.
This season has gone from promising to devastating in just two weeks. We need something – anything – to stop this freefall before it completely derails our year.
Game Prediction
Projected Score: Nuggets 128, Bulls 118
Denver wins comfortably, extending their winning streak to 8 games and our losing streak to 6. Jokic posts another triple-double, Murray scores 25+, and we battle but never threaten to win.
We cover the 14-point spread by keeping it to a 10-point loss, showing some fight despite the difficult matchup. The game goes over 240 points as our defense continues struggling.
Best Bets:
- Bulls +14 (only play worth making) – Should lose by less than 14
- Over 240 (risky lean) – Our defense can’t stop anyone
- Avoid Bulls ML – We’re not winning this game
For Bulls fans, this represents survival mode. Don’t get embarrassed on national television, cover the spread, and try to find something – anything – positive to build on.
Monday night in Denver – let’s just try to keep it respectable.
See Red (through tears)… But let´s go Bulls!!!