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The Los Angeles Clippers will take on the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Clippers-Bulls prediction and pick.
The Clippers have managed to essentially secure the eighth seed in Western Conference, making this game fairly low stakes for them. The Bulls, on the other hand, are in a completely different situation. Chicago is 44-32, a record that has them tied for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They desperately need a win to avoid falling behind the Toronto Raptors in the standings as the end of the season approaches. Falling to the sixth seed means a first-round matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that the Bulls have lost to four times this season. Chicago should be playing like their playoff lives are on the line Thursday night.
Here are the Clippers-Bulls NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Clippers-Bulls Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +2.5 (-110)
Chicago Bulls: -2.5 (-110)
Over: 221 (-110)
Under: 221 (-110)
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Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
In typical fashion, the Clippers will rely on their defense to keep them in this game. Los Angeles has been one of the better defensive units in the NBA all season long, only giving up 108 points per game. The Clippers also hold their opponents to a 45% shooting percentage, including a 34% shooting percentage from three-point range. Those are some of the best defensive numbers in the NBA, and they'll be necessary to stop a dynamic Chicago offense.
The Bulls could be missing a key player in this game. Star shooting guard Zach LaVine is questionable for this game with knee soreness, which is horrible news for a Chicago team that is already missing starting point guard Lonzo Ball. LaVine averages 24 points per game while playing 34 minutes per contest, which clearly shows just how important he is to the team. Without LaVine, the Bulls would be forced to Javonte Green. That's not an appealing prospect against an incredibly tough Clippers team.
Why The Bulls Could Cover The Spread
Chicago has the offensive firepower to hang around against this Los Angeles defense. While they only average 111 points per game, the Bulls have some of the best shooting percentages in the NBA. Chicago shoots 37% from three-point range while shooting 48% from the field overall. Their effective field goal percentage and shooting efficiency both rank inside the top ten in league. Even without LaVine, this offense will be hard to deal with.
Home court advantage will play a huge part in this contest. The Bulls are significantly better when they play at home, earning a 26-10 record in United Center and a 18-22 record anywhere else. Chicago is also 24-12 against the spread on their home court, with a 20-7 record ATS as home favorites. Los Angeles has also struggled on the road, posting a 16-23 record away from home. This looks like an ideal spot to pick Chicago.
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Final Clippers-Bulls Prediction & Pick
The Bulls are the obvious pick here. They've been covering in games like this one all season long, and there's no reason to think they'll stop now when faced with a one-possession spread. Lock in Chicago.
Final Clippers-Bulls Pick: Chicago Bulls: -2.5 (-110)
