Bulls' league-best pace meets a Knicks defense ranked sixth

The Chicago Bulls (1-6), losers of five straight, visit the New York Knicks (3-4) on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in a matchup of the league's fastest pace against its sixth-best defense.

Chicago plays at a pace of 108.5, first in the league. New York is 28th at 99.1 and pairs that patience with a defensive rating of 106.4, sixth. Whoever sets the tempo shapes the game.

Speed has not produced points for the Bulls. They score 103.8 per 100 possessions, 27th, and their effective field-goal percentage of 48.2 is second-worst in the league.

The glass is the second matchup. Chicago grabs 29% of its own misses, 10th in the league, while New York takes 77.8% of available defensive rebounds, the best rate in the NBA. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 13.9 rebounds, so Chicago's second chances run into him. The Bulls' one clear edge is the foul line, where their free-throw rate of 0.38 leads the league.

At the other end, Chicago allows 118.8 points per 100 possessions, 28th, and its net rating of -15 is the league's worst. That leaves room for a Knicks offense that ranks 22nd.

Jalen Brunson leads New York with 24.6 points a game, though he shoots 39.3% from the field. Josh Hart, who averages two steals in 31.6 minutes, is questionable.

Caleb Wilson carries Chicago with 21.6 points and two steals a game, and Josh Giddey sets the table with 7.9 assists. Nicolas Claxton, who plays 27.8 minutes a game, is questionable. Jalen Smith, the Bulls' top rebounder at 8.6 a game, is probable.

The Knicks won the first meeting 133-127 in Chicago on Wednesday, October 28. That loss sits inside the Bulls' skid, which also includes a 134-99 defeat at Boston.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Knicks an 83% chance to win. Our projection has them at 77%, by 9.1 points.