Better Defense Will Make Biggest Impact
A pair of teams with nearly identical records meet in a pivotal game for the Chicago Bulls. They must beat the Oklahoma City Thunder if they are going to make a run at a top Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Each team has a similar profile entering Friday’s contest: solid offensively but room for improvement on the defensive end. Here is an NBA betting preview for the game.
Let’s check the latest NBA odds, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Thunder vs Bulls. We’ve plenty of NBA betting odds for you to consider.
Thunder Showing Signs of Improvement
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won four of their last six games and continue to make strides at getting better. General manager Sam Presti is still loaded up on draft picks, but his team is improving.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Wingman Josh Giddey is behind him at 15.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
The team is scoring 116.7 points per game, ranking seventh, but struggles in efficiency. The Thunder are 20th in making 46.5% of field goal attempts and 17th in making 35.7% of 3-point shots.
Defensively, they allow 116.5 points per game, which ranks 23rd, but are better in efficiency. They hold teams to 46.5% from the field, which ranks ninth, and 35.7% from the 3-point range (14th).
The Thunder are 25-16 against the spread and on over/under. They are 5-14 straight up on the road.
Bulls Slipping After Progression Last Season
The Chicago Bulls were leading the Eastern Conference into January last season. Now they are looking to climb out of a tie for 10th place and have yet to do it with Lonzo Ball (knee). They have lost two straight and list DeMar DeRozan, their the leading scorer who averages 26.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists, as doubtful with a quadriceps injury.
The Bulls are 13th in scoring 114.2 points per game. They are fifth in offensive efficiency, making 48.8% field goal attempts, 37.4% in 3-point shots and 81.3% on free throws.
Defensively, they allow 114.9 points per game, which ranks 18th, but are 22nd in allowing 47.6% on field goal attempts and third worst in allowing 36.8% on 3-point shots.
They are 21-19-2 against the spread and 20-21-1 on over/under. They are 11-9 straight up at home.
Thunder vs Bulls Game Injuries
Thunder vs Bulls Head-to-Head
Believe it or not, the two organizations are deadlocked at 77 wins apiece in 154 regular-season appearances. However, that includes games as the Seattle Supersonics before they moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since the move, the Thunder lead the series 17-11, but the Bulls have won three of the last four meetings.
Past scores and NBA odds show the over is 7-2 in the last nine meetings overall and 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Chicago. The Thunder are 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five meetings.
Thunder vs Bulls Game Information
- Game: Thunder (18-23) vs Bulls (19-23)
- Location: United Center, Chicago
- Day/Time: Friday, Jan. 13th, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Thunder vs Bulls Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Thunder vs Bulls Betting Lines
Thunder vs Bulls Picks & Prediction
Sports bets show that 57% of public bets are on the Bulls to cover the spread and 73% of public bets are on the over. That isn’t completely out of line, given how poor each defense is, but the Chicago Bulls like to play with a slower pace, so that may slow things.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been great for NBA betting and are 21-10 against the spread as underdogs while the Bulls are 5-9 as favorites.
This game should favor the Bulls, but if DeRozan is out, being down a defender will only hurt them. If they control the pace, their efficient offiense can knock down shots and set their defense.
They may be able to force enough stops and secure enough rebounds to turn it into a positive result on their home court.
The Chicago Bulls are listed at -180 in our Vegas Lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bulls, you have a chance to win $56. The Oklahoma City Thunder are +155, offering a chance to win $155.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines give the Bulls a 64.29% chance to win, with the Thunder at 39.22%.
Thunder vs Bulls Trends
Thunder vs Bulls Edge
Thunder vs Bulls Results
Thunder vs Bulls Game Summary
