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The Chicago Bulls head to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Saturday night showcase, with playoff seeding on the line. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Bulls-Cavaliers prediction and pick.
The Bulls fell 126-109 in their last matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. DeMar DeRozan did not play, as he had a left adductor strain. He is probable to play against the Cavs. Despite his absence against the Pelicans, the Bulls had plenty of offense to spare. Zach LaVine scored 39 points, shooting 12 for 23 from the field. Additionally, Nikola Vucevic added 16 points, shooting 7 for 11 from the field, with nine rebounds. He also nailed 2 of 3 shots from the 3-point line. Not only that, but Coby White came off the bench to score 23 points, shooting 9 for 15. He was red-hot from beyond the arc, going 5 for 8 from the 3-point line. Unfortunately, discipline was a factor, as the Bulls allowed the Pelicans to shoot 34 times from the free-throw line. The Bulls look to correct the issue in their match with the Cavs. The Bulls are the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs lost 117-104 to the Toronto Raptors in Canada. Lauri Markkanen scored 20 points, shooting 6 for 10 from the field. Further, he also hit 2 of 6 from the 3-point line. Similarly, Darius Garland chipped in. He scored 18 points, shooting 7 for 18 from the field. However, he was cold from the triples, shooting 1 for 6 from the 3-point line. Despite that, he contributed 10 assists to the tally. Consequently, the defense was an issue. Pascal Siakam went off on the Cavs. He scored 35 points, shooting 12 for 20 from the field. In addition to that, he nailed 6 of 7 from the 3-point line. The Cavs must defend better, especially since DeRozan will likely play. The Cavs are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the Bulls.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Bulls-Cavaliers odds:
NBA Odds: Bulls-Cavaliers Odds
Bulls: +0.5 (-105)
Cavaliers: -0.5 (-112)
Over: 222.5 (-110)
Under: 222.5 (-110)
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Why The Bulls Could Cover The Spread
Chicago gets their top guy back. DeRozan is probable to play against the Cavs in Cleveland. As a result, it gives Chicago a boost. In his last game against the Cavs two weeks ago, DeRozan scored 25 points. He achieved this by shooting 9 for 26 from the field and also converted all seven free-throw attempts. Additionally, Vucevic rose to the occasion, scoring 20 points. He shot 9 for 19 from the field while pulling down 14 rebounds. Chicago ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage. Subsequently, the Bulls rank first in the league in 3-point field goal percentage. Chicago also ranks fifth in free-throw percentage, as they have hit their shots when they have made it to the charity line. But the offense was not what gave the Bulls the edge in their win over the Cavs.
Moreover, the defense was a factor. The Bulls held the Cavs to 41.9 percent shooting in the March 12 win, including limiting Cleveland to 20.8 percent from the triples. Chicago defended the 3-point shot well, and it paid dividends in a 101-91 victory. Over 10 games in this series, the Bulls are 6-4. Chicago can cover the spread if they can defend the perimeter and force the Cavs to take horrendous shots. Vucevic gives them the advantage on the boards and the defensive ability to clamp down on the Cavs.
Why The Cavaliers Could Cover The Spread
Cleveland has lost two of three to the Bulls this season. The lone victory was spectacular. In the 115-92 home win, the Cavs shot 55 percent as a collective unit from the field. Garland paced them with 24 points. He shot 9 for 16 from the field, including 3 for 7 from the 3-point line. In addition to that, Evan Mobley scored 16 points. He shot 8 for 11 from the field, while also grabbing nine rebounds. Markkanen chipped in with 14 points. He went 5 for 8 from the field while also nailing 2 for 4 from beyond the arc. The starters as a unit combined for 76 points in that game. Subsequently, the change of venue might give the Cavs the edge.
Cleveland has won its past two games against Chicago at home. The Cavs are 23-13 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this season. It boosts their morale and helps the defense. For example, in their home win over the Bulls, Cleveland held Chicago to 26.9 percent from the 3-point line. In addition to that, the Bulls shot a measly 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. While the Cavs do miss the prescience of Jarrett Allen, they have persevered without him, going 4-5 without him since he suffered a fractured finger. That mark is better than the 2-6 record they had months before when he was out.
The Cavs will cover the spread if they can defend the Bulls and not allow them to take open shots. Cleveland must employ the New Orleans strategy and get to the line.
Final Bulls-Cavaliers Prediction & Pick
This will be a war. These two teams are battling for playoff positioning while desperately trying to avoid the play-in seeds. The Cavs held tight in their loss against the Bulls on March 8. They have had two weeks to adjust, and the passion of the Cleveland fans will push them. Take the Cavaliers to win and cover.
Final Bulls-Cavaliers Prediction & Pick: Cavaliers -0.5 (-112)
