The Chicago Bulls (1-3) are in the nation’s capital Thursday to wrap up their back-to-back against the Washington Wizards (0-4) at the Capital One Arena. The tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Bulls-Wizards NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Bulls at Wizards: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Wizards -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bulls +5.5 (-110) | Wizards -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 234.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Bulls at Wizards: Key Injuries
Bulls
- PF Lauri Markkanen (calf) questionable
Wizards
- NONE
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Bulls at Wizards: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Wizards 121, Bulls 117
Money line (ML)
Chicago took down Washington 115-107 in their first meeting Tuesday. The game was decided, as most NBA games are nowadays, by how each side did behind the arc: The Wizards made 10 threes at a 27% clip while the Bulls sunk 15 of their 36 3-point attempts (41.7%).
As we’ve seen in the NBA over the past week, it’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row. There’s going to be a lot of head-to-head doubleheaders this year in the NBA due to the COVID-altered climate, and there has been plenty of examples already of how hard it is for teams to sweep these back-to-backs.
The Wizards are getting back a key contributor in second-year starting PF Rui Hachimura, who makes his season debut after missing the first four games of the season due to an eye issue.
Officially, I’ll PASS ON THE MONEY LINE. I lean Washington plus the points, but I don’t like them enough in this spot to sprinkle on the money line.
Against the spread (ATS)
Neither one of these franchises has made the playoffs over the past couple of years, but interestingly enough the Chicago has a 5-2 record against Washington when Bulls SG Zach LaVine and Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal face-off.
Also, Washington is 6-1 ATS in the last seven games vs. Chicago. I only lean BULLS +5.5 (-110) for a half-unit because I prefer the total in this one.
Over/Under (O/U)
Since their first meeting Tuesday went Under the total by 16 points, there’s value in BETTING OVER 234.5 (-110) in today’s game. Chicago and Washington have the second-and third-fastest pace in the NBA, and both teams have a below-average defensive rating.
Another reason to like the Over is that both teams send opponents to the charity stripe at an alarming rate. Washington’s defense has the highest free throw-to-field goal attempt rate in the league and Chicago is 2nd FTA/FGA as an offense, but the Bulls’ defense is ranked 25th in FTA/FGA.
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Also see:
- 10 bold NBA rookie class predictions for the 2020-21 season (Rookie Wire)
- Hoops Hype Rumors: Bulls | Wizards
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