The Chicago Bulls (38-42) and Dallas Mavericks (38-42) square off for the 2nd and final time this season on Friday. Tip-off from American Airlines Center is at 8:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bulls vs. Mavericks odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Bulls have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament but they’re currently sitting in the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, 2 games back of the Toronto Raptors. Chicago is 5-5 in its last 10 games and has dropped 2 in a row. It’s just 17-23 on the road this season which is 4 games worse than their home record (21-19).
The Western Conference is much more open than the East, which is good news for the struggling Mavericks. They’re the 11th in the conference — currently out of the play-in tournament — but that’s only a half-game back of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas has 2 games left, so they can slide into play-in positioning before the season ends. However, the Mavs are struggling and are just 3-7 in their last 10 outings.
Chicago won 144-115 as a 5-point home favorite as the Over (221) cashed in the first meeting on Dec. 10.
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Bulls at Mavericks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:42 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bulls +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Mavericks -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +7.5 (-110) | Mavericks -7.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Bulls at Mavericks key injuries
Bulls
- G Alex Caruso (foot) questionable
- G DeMar DeRozan (rest) questionable
- G Zach LaVine (rest) questionable
Mavericks
- G Luka Doncic (thigh) probable
- G Josh Green (rest) out
- F Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) out
- G Kyrie Irving (foot) out
- F Maxi Kleber (hamstring) out
- F Christian Wood (rest) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bulls at Mavericks picks and predictions
Prediction
Mavericks 113, Bulls 107
Moneyline
There’s no way anyone should bet the Mavericks (-300) to win outright. They should win this game, but no team that’s 3-7 in their last 10 games and is missing so many key pieces should be bet at that line. I would PASS on the moneyline.
Against the spread
The Mavericks are only 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games and have failed to cover the spread in 3 of their last 4 games. The Bulls are slightly better at 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games, including a 2-2 ATS stretch in their last 4.
The Bulls are 6-2 ATS as underdogs of 7.5-9.5 points while the Mavericks are 4-4-1 ATS as favorites of 7.5-9.5 points.
BET BULLS +7.5 (-110).
Over/Under
The Under is 7-3 in the Mavericks’ last 10 games and with the Bulls’ 2 stars potentially sitting out due to rest, this game could be on the lower-scoring end. The total reflects that, being set at only 221.5 points, but I still like the Under in this one.
The Bulls don’t have much firepower if DeRozan and LaVine don’t play, and now with the Mavericks ruling out Hardaway Jr., Irving, Green, Wood and Kleber, it’s hard to see this game being very high-scoring.
BET UNDER 221.5 (-110).
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