The Dallas Mavericks (21-18) host the Chicago Bulls (26-10) Sunday at the American Airlines Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the Bulls vs. Mavericks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Chicago has won nine straight games (5-4 ATS) with the latest outing being a 130-122 at home over the Washington Wizards as 5.5-point home favorites.
In the last 14 days, the Bulls have the seventh-best adjusted net rating at plus-6.5 points per 100 possessions and ninth-best spread differential at a plus-1.7 ATS margin, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Dallas has won five in a row (4-1 ATS), which includes a victory over the second-place Golden State Warriors Wednesday in former Mavs great Dirk Nowitzki’s jersey retirement ceremony.
Over the past two weeks, Dallas is 6-1 overall, 5-2 ATS and 2-5 O/U with the best adjusted net rating in the NBA at plus-17.9 points per 100 possessions, per CTG.
The Bulls (-3.5) beat the Mavs in their first meeting this season in Chicago 117-107, Nov. 10. In fact, the Bulls have won and covered four straight meetings with the Mavs and the total is 2-2 O/U in those contests.
Bulls at Mavericks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Mavericks +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls -2.5 (-108) | Mavericks +2.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 217.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Bulls at Mavericks key injuries
Bulls
- SG Alex Caruso (health and safety protocols) out
Mavericks
- PG Luka Doncic (ankle) questionable
- PF Kristaps Porzingis (health and safety protocols) out
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Bulls at Mavericks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bulls 115, Mavericks 109
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” towards the Bulls (-135) because I like Chicago to win this game handily, but I’m so confident in the Bulls here that I’ll just lay the points.
Chicago outshot Dallas from everywhere on the floor in their first meeting, out-rebounded them, was better in three of the “four factors” and had a better assist-to-turnover ratio.
Furthermore, the Mavs will be without their leading scorer and rebounder from that game, Porzingis, who also led the starting 5 in plus/minus in that game.
Against the spread
BET the BULLS -2.5 (-108) despite the Mavericks +2.5 (-112) having a better non-garbage time net rating over the past two weeks even though both teams are in the midst of winning streaks.
The bottom line is this is just a better spot for Chicago. For instance, the Bulls are 7-4 ATS as a road favorite and 8-4 ATS versus Western Conference foes. While the Mavs are 4-5 ATS at home versus teams with a winning record and 2-9 ATS versus Eastern Conference opponents.
Also, Chicago handled Dallas earlier this season despite Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan having an off-night against a Dallas team he’s played very well against recently.
Last season, while playing for the San Antonio Spurs, DeRozan averaged 30.7 points per on 51.6% shooting with 8.3 assists per in three games versus the Mavs.
BET the BULLS -2.5 (-108).
Over/Under
PASS since the situation-based trends point in opposite directions and the total is split 2-2 O/U in the past four Bulls-Mavericks meetings.
If anything, I “lean” to the Under 217.5 (-110) because the Mavs are 4-13-1 O/U in Dallas with a minus-6.7 total margin.
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