Tip-off: Monday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -1.5, Total: 192.5

The Bulls look to get back on track when they visit the Jazz on Monday.

Chicago has been hampered by injuries to both Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose over the past week and is 1-3 (SU and ATS) in its past four games while being just 5-8 ATS over the entire season. Over the past two games, the club has lost by an average of 16.5 PPG to the likes of Sacramento and Portland in the second and third games of a long seven-game road trip. In each of their past three losses, the Bulls shot below 43% from the field while allowing their opponent hit better than 48% FG. Utah has compiled a talented young group of players, but has not been able to compete at a high level with the rest of the NBA just yet, and has lost five of its past seven contests. The Jazz failed to crack 100 points in eight of their past nine games as their defense is struggling, having given 100+ points in four of the past five contests. On Saturday they hosted the Pelicans as 2.5-point underdogs and were not able to keep PF Anthony Davis (43 points, 14 rebounds) and the rest of New Orleans in check during a 106-94 loss. Neither of these clubs have scored more than 97 points in any of their matchups over the past two seasons (4 games) with the average total being 175.3 PPG, while the Bulls are 3-1 SU (2-2 ATS) over that time. The Jazz were able to take a victory in their last meeting though, when they prevailed 89-83 at home as 4.5-point underdogs despite shooting a meager 38.8% from the field. Their shooting percentage was actually an improvement over their previous game, though, when they shot a putrid 29.4% and lost 93-73. Some trends to keep an eye on in this one include that the Bulls are 17-10 ATS (63%) after two or more consecutive losses, while Utah is 25-15 ATS (63%) after failing to cover three of its previous four games ATS. Injuries have really done a job on Chicago this season and the trio of PG Derrick Rose (hamstring), PG Kirk Hinrich (chest) and PF Taj Gibson (ankle) are all expected to miss this contest, while PF Pau Gasol (calf) is listed as probable. On the other side of the ball, the Jazz have SF Rodney Hood (foot) out indefinitely.

Can the Bulls pull out an important road win on Monday? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2014-15 season. StatFox Forecaster has a 60% ATS record (38-25) in featured games this season. StatFox Gary is off to a great start to the 2014-15 campaign at 58% ATS (11-8) in his Best Bets.

The Bulls have improved greatly this season on the offensive side of the ball while sitting in the middle of the NBA with 100.2 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the field. Last season they posted a league-low 93.4 PPG on 43.2% FG. Despite the overall improvement, they have been doing much worse lately with 90 or fewer points scored in three of their past four contests. They gave up some of their elite defense from last season to gain the offensive edge and have allowed 98.2 PPG (44% FG) to their opponents so far. SG Jimmy Butler (20.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is growing into an elite player and has scored more than 20 points in four of his past five games while really struggling with only nine points and four boards in the loss to Portland. In his one contest against the Jazz last season, Butler was able to record just five points with four rebounds and three assists. PF Pau Gasol (18.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 BPG) has stepped up his game with his new team and will likely return on Monday after missing the past three contests. He has taken on Utah 40 times (39 starts) in his career and has averaged 17.4 PPG (51% FG) and 9.8 RPG. SF Mike Dunleavy (10.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG) will be depended on for more scoring with Rose, Gibson and Hinrich out and he had 12 and 19 points against the Clippers and Kings before putting up a dud (two points, three rebounds) against the Blazers. Dunleavy scored just 6.0 PPG on 35% shooting in two games coming off the bench against this opponent in the 2013-14 season.

Utah has been one of the poorer offenses in the league this season with scoring a mere 96.6 PPG (8th-worst in league) on 46.1% shooting while averaging just 93.3 PPG in its past four games. The defense has also been poor, giving up 101.4 PPG (9th-worst in NBA) and has allowed the opposition to shoot at a 46.4% clip (7th-worst in league). SF Gordon Hayward (19.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.3 APG) has been able to put up some big numbers this year and is coming off a tremendous performance of 31 points (9-of-16 FG) and nine rebounds in their most recent victory. He shot just 33% in the two games against Chicago last season while averaging 15.0 PPG, 8.5 APG and 6.0 RPG. PF Derrick Favors (15.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.6 BPG) has hit double-digit points in each of his past eight contests while getting five double-doubles on the season. The Bulls’ defense shut him down in the two games last season, as he scored 10.0 PPG (33% FG) while adding 8.0 RPG. C Enes Kanter (12.9 PPG), SG Alec Burks (12.8 PPG) and PG Trey Burke (10.6 PPG) have all provided spurts of much needed offense to this club, as each is 23 years old or younger.