The Los Angeles Clippers (8-4) hosts the Chicago Bulls (8-4) Sunday at the Staples Center for a 9:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bulls vs. Clippers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Chicago got routed by the Golden State Warriors 119-93 as 5.5-point road underdogs Friday. It was a “burn the tapes” game for the Bulls who sank seven fewer 3-pointers, grabbed nine fewer boards, committed four more turnovers and were outscored in the paint, 52-38, and in transition, 18-7.
The Bulls are 8-4 ATS and 5-7 O/U with the seventh-best net rating (plus-4.5).
L.A. has won seven straight with the latest being a 129-102 beatdown of the Minnesota Timberwolves at home Saturday. However, the Clippers’ only victory over a team with a winning record over this stretch came at home vs. the Miami Heat Wednesday.
The Clippers are 7-5 ATS and 6-6 O/U with the fourth-best net rating in the NBA (plus-5.9). L.A. took both regular-season meetings vs. Chicago last year but only covered in one of those games.
Bulls at Clippers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Clippers -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +4.5 (-115) | Clippers -4.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Bulls at Clippers key injuries
Bulls
- C Nikola Vucevic (health and safety protocols)
Clippers
- PF Marcus Morris (knee) questionable
Bulls at Clippers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Clippers 110, Bulls 102
Money line
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Clippers (-180) because it’s on the fringe of my price range for an NBA regular-season favorite.
However, L.A. is a little too expensive considering how good Chicago has looked thus far, and it’s a buy-low spot for the Bulls (+145) who were just crushed by the Warriors in an embarrassing fashion.
Against the spread
BET the CLIPPERS -4.5 (-107) for 1 unit because L.A. has the best cover rate in the second game of a back-to-back since the beginning of last season and Bulls second-leading scorer DeMar DeRozan was awful vs. the Clippers last season.
For instance, the Clippers are 10-2-1 ATS when playing on zero days rest with a plus-11.2 margin of victory and plus-6.6 spread differential.
Also, DeRozan averaged 16.0 points per game on 46.4% true shooting (.391/.000/.923) with a minus-32 net rating vs. the Clippers in three games last season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Additionally, there’s been a “sharp line move” towards L.A. as this game opened with the Clippers laying 3.5 points at most shops but has been steamed up to the current number.
Finally, this Clippers team has come into this season with the incredible momentum built during last year’s postseason and the Bulls are still a newish team figuring out everyone’s roles.
Chicago may keep this close through three-and-a-half quarters but L.A. will put this game into garbage time with a couple of minutes left in the fourth.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 216.5 (-108) for a tiny wager if at all because there’s a “reverse line move” on the total heading south. According to Pregame.com, more than three-fourths of the action is on the Over but the Bulls-Clippers total has been lowered from the 218.5-point opening number.
That said, both teams shoot very well from the field and the Clippers are one of the fastest-paced teams in the Association so I’d go light if wagering on the UNDER 216.5 (-108).
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