Chicago Visit East’s Worst
A classic NBA rivalry is renewed on Wednesday night as the Chicago Bulls (28-34) visit the Detroit Pistons (15-47). Both teams are a far cry from what they used to be. Detroit is tied for the second-worst record in the association, while Chicago is sitting outside of the Play-In Tournament picture.
The Bulls’ two-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday with a 104-98 loss against the Toronto Raptors. The Pistons are on a five-game losing streak while going 3-2 against the spread (ATS). Will Chicago make progress in the Eastern Conference standings, or will Detroit pull off the upset?
Check the latest NBA news, injury reports and NBA odds for the Bulls vs Pistons. There are plenty of NBA predictions to consider.
Bulls Hope to Win Possession Battle
The Bulls came out firing from the All-Star break with back-to-back wins by at least 20 points. However, Chicago’s progress in the East was halted with the loss against the Raptors. Despite shooting 52.1% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers, the Bulls fell short due to fewer possessions. Chicago was outrebounded by 12 and allowed 19 offensive boards. Plus, it lost the turnover margin by eight. The Bulls had 71 field goal attempts to the Raptors’ 94.
Chicago must rebound and take care of the ball against the Pistons. Fortunately, Detroit will have a short-handed frontcourt with Isaiah Stewart (8.1 rebounds) and rookie Jalen Duren (8.7 rebounds) out due to injuries. The Pistons also rank in the bottom half of forced turnovers per game and are 23rd at 15 turnovers per game.
Over their last five road games, the Bulls are 0-5 outright and ATS. Leading scorers DeMar DeRozan (25.1 points) and Zach LaVine (24.1 points) scored under 20 points on Tuesday. Will they bounce back against the Pistons, who rank 28th in defensive efficiency?
Pistons Will Lean on Short-Handed Frontcourt
Detroit has made no progress in its rebuild due to various injuries, including guard Cade Cunningham’s season-ending shin injury. The Pistons could be without several pieces on Wednesday.
Reserve Isaiah Livers (5.6 points) is questionable with an ankle injury, and lead rebounders Duren and Stewart will be out. However, rookie guard Jaden Ivey (15.3 points) and forward Bojan Bogdanovic are probable after missing Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Rebounding has been one of Detroit’s strengths, especially with Duren’s increased role. With Stewart and Duren out, the Pistons will turn to forward Marvin Bagley III (11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds) and newly-acquired center James Wiseman (7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds). Bagley recorded 21 points and 18 rebounds on Feb. 25, followed by 21 points and 12 rebounds on Feb. 27. Wiseman comes off a 23-point and seven-rebound performance.
The Pistons need their makeshift frontcourt to perform well once again.
Bulls vs Pistons Game Injuries
Bulls vs Pistons Head-to-Head
The Bulls have dominated this matchup with 13 consecutive wins. Chicago is also 9-1 ATS in the last 10 games against Detroit.
Bulls vs Pistons Game Information
- Game: Chicago Bulls (28-34) vs. Detroit Pistons (15-47)
- Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- Day/Time: Wednesday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Bulls vs Pistons Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Bulls vs Pistons Betting Lines
Bulls vs Pistons Picks and Prediction
The Bulls were hammered on the boards in their last game, but the Pistons may lack the pieces to take advantage. In addition, Detroit ranks 28th in opponent 2-point percentage. Chicago lives on 2-pointers, as it ranks last in attempted 3-pointers per game.
DeRozan has perhaps the best mid-range game in the NBA and shoots 50.9% from the field. A prop for DeRozan to go over his projected point total is a favorable bet. The Pistons lack the perimeter defenders and interior defense to slow the Bulls’ offense. Look for a Chicago cover.
Chicago is listed at -230 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bulls, you have a chance to win $43. Detroit is +190, offering a chance to win $190 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Chicago a 69.70% chance to win, with the Pistons at 34.48%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Bulls vs Pistons Trends
Bulls vs Pistons Edge
Bulls vs Pistons Results
Bulls vs Pistons Game Summary
Pistons vs Bulls Previous Game (Dec. 30, 2022)
Two underachieving teams in the Eastern Conference meet on Friday night. The Detroit Pistons (9-28) have failed to make a leap and hold the NBA’s worst record. The Chicago Bulls (15-19) sit in the bottom third of the standings and currently hold the 10th spot.
Detroit snapped a six-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 121-101 win over the Orlando Magic. The Bulls have won four of their last five games while going 4-1 against the spread (ATS). Will the Pistons grab their fifth road win of the season, or will Chicago take its home record to 9-8?
The Pistons have been one of the NBA’s worst teams for a number of seasons. Like most, the Bulls have had Detroit’s number, covering six of their last seven games against the Pistons. While Chicago has lacked scoring balance, Detroit’s defense is too bad to stop the Bulls’ stars. DeRozan, in particular, has been a monster with back-to-back games with over 30 points.
Look for the Bulls to cover their second straight game at home.
