The Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) visit the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls (1-1) Saturday. Tipoff from United Center is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Cavaliers vs. Bulls odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Cavaliers look to avoid an 0-2 start. With some new additions in the offseason, such as star G Donovan Mitchell, this team is looking to do more than just make the playoffs. The Cavs have their eyes set on winning the Eastern Conference. They’ll look to validate themselves as contenders with this matchup vs. the Bulls, the 5th seed in the East last season. After losing at the Toronto Raptors 108-105 as 2.5-point underdogs in their season opener in a back-and-forth game Wednesday, the Cavs look to get their 1st win of this new campaign.
The Bulls look to make it back to the playoffs but want to avoid a 1st-round exit. They lost at the Washington Wizards 102-100 as 2-point dogs Friday. With PG Lonzo Ball having yet another surgery on that troublesome left knee, they are missing what he brings to this team on both ends of the floor. They’ll look to SG Zach LaVine and F/G DeMar DeRozan to carry this team as far as it can go. Through 2 games, DeRozan leads the Bulls with 34.5 points per game on 55.6% shooting, while also dishing out a team-best 7.5 assists per game.
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Cavaliers at Bulls odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Bulls +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers -2.5 (-105) | Bulls +2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 220.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Cavaliers at Bulls key injuries
Cavaliers
- G Darius Garland (eye) out
- G Ricky Rubio (knee) out
Bulls
- PG Lonzo Ball (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Cavaliers at Bulls picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 108, Bulls 104
Moneyline
If you want to avoid laying the 2.5 points with the spread, lean Cavaliers (-130). They should win this game as I don’t see them starting their season 0-2.
Facing Chicago won’t be easy though. These matchups between playoff contenders are always tough, , especially with this being so early in the season. The Cavaliers’ interior presence on both ends of the floor with C Jarrett Allen and F/C Evan Mobley will be too much for the top-heavy Bulls to defeat.
Against the spread
BET CAVALIERS -2.5 (-105).
While this won’t be an easy victory for the Cavs, they’ll likely cover the spread if they do win this game. If it’s within 2.5 points, I can see the Cavaliers losing simply due to the clutch gene in both DeRozan and LaVine, who is expected to make his season debut after missing the first 2 games to what was called “left knee injury management”.
The Cavaliers’ perimeter shooting is a big key for them in this game. If they can get shots to fall and can play their brand of basketball, they should easily cover the spread against a Bulls team that is without their star point guard.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 220.5 (-108).
Expect this game to be a close one that easily could go either way on the O/U. Because of the Cavs’ interior defense and the Bulls’ perimeter defense, the Under will be a safer bet than the Over for this one.
I do, however, expect the stars to shine bright in this one. Expect DeRozan, LaVine, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen all to have big impacts for their teams. And don’t be surprised if complimentary pieces such as C Nikola Vucevic and G Coby White have big games for the Bulls.
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