The Brooklyn Nets (25-14) travel to the Windy City Wednesday for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off with the Chicago Bulls (27-11) at the United Center. Below, we look at the Nets vs. Bulls odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Brooklyn has alternated between winning and losing over the past five games most recently losing at the Portland Trail Blazers 114-108 as 8.5-point road favorites. It was Kyrie Irving‘s second game back, and Kyrie scored 22 points on 42.9% shooting with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
Over the past two weeks, the Nets are 2-5 straight-up (SU), 0-7 ATS and 3-4 O/U with the 23rd-ranked non-garbage time net rating at minus-6.1 points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
The Bulls (-13.5) clobbered the Detroit Pistons last night (Tuesday) 133-87 for Chicago’s 10th win in the last 11 games.
In the last 14 days, the Bulls are 6-1 SU, 3-4 ATS and 3-4 O/U with the fifth-best non-garbage time net rating at plus-8.4 points per 100 possessions, per CTG.
Chicago has won and covered against Brooklyn in their first two meetings this season. The Under has cashed in six consecutive Nets-Bulls games.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA January 12 breakdown
Nets at Bulls 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 2:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Nets +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Bulls -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nets +1.5 (-105) | Bulls -1.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 233.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Nets at Bulls key injuries
Nets
- PG Kyrie Irving (foot) questionable
- SG James Harden (knee) questionable
- C Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) questionable
- C LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) out
Bulls
- SG Alex Caruso (foot) out
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Nets at Bulls odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Money line
“LEAN” to the BULLS (-130) because they are being backed by presumably sharp money while the Nets (+105) are the public side.
According to Pregame.com, Chicago’s money line has been steamed up from the -125 opener.
Furthermore, the Bulls are healthier and more in-sync than the Nets. Kyrie goes in and out of the lineup based on his opponent location’s COVID policies, and Harden is dealing with a knee injury.
On the other hand, Chicago has all three of its former All-Stars (DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević) in the lineup along with floor general and first-year PG Lonzo Ball.
There were questions about how these new pieces would gel for the Bulls, but considering Chicago is first-place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are one of the biggest first-half surprises in the NBA.
I only “LEAN” to the BULLS (-130) because I’d rather wait to see Brooklyn’s official starting 5 before placing a wager.
Against the spread
PASS since Chicago’s money line is only 10 cents on the dollar more expensive than the Bulls -1.5 (-120) so there’s no point in fussing with the spread here.
For what it’s worth, Chicago is 11-5 ATS as a home favorite, and Brooklyn is 3-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 233.5 (-107) for 1 unit as a fade against this line movement. The Nets-Bulls look-ahead total was set at 231 but has been steamed all the way up to 233.5.
Both teams have a bottom-six 3-point attempt rate, and the Under has cashed in Chicago’s last five meetings with teams above-.500.
Also, the Nets are 6-12 O/U versus teams with a winning record, and the Bulls are 6-9 O/U against teams with a winning record.
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