Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The Chicago Bulls (5-8) welcome the Houston Rockets (9-4) to the United Center Sunday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Rockets vs. Bulls odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; split last season 1-1

The Bulls lost 144-126 at the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, closing as 10-point underdogs. Chicago was led by G Coby White, who ended with 29 points on 8-of-15 shooting. The Bulls have traded off winning and losing over their last 5 games. They are just 2-6 straight up and 3-5 against the spread (ATS) over their last 8.

The Rockets have rattled off 4 straight wins and are coming off a 125-104 home victory over the LA Clippers Friday, closing as 5-point favorites. Houston has covered in 3 straight and is 8-5 ATS on the season. It is 2-3 ATS on the road. The Rockets are led by G Jalen Green, who is averaging 19.8 points per game.

Rockets at Bulls odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Rockets -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Bulls +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
  • Against the spread: Rockets -4.5 (-110) | Bulls +4.5 (-xxx)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 233.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

Rockets at Bulls key injuries

Rockets

  • C Stevens Adams (knee) out
  • F Amen Thompson (quad) questionable

Bulls

  • G Lonzo Ball (wrist) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Rockets at Bulls picks and predictions

Prediction

Rockets 119, Bulls 113

Moneyline

PASS.

There’s no great value on the moneyline here.

The Bulls as home underdogs are playable, but they are just 1-4 this season at the United Center. Avoid a moneyline wager, as Houston is too expensive of a favorite.

Against the spread

BET ROCKETS -4.5 (-110).

The Rockets have won 4 straight, 3 of which have come by a margin greater than this. They have just 1 win on the season within this spread, as well, and are 5-2 ATS in their last 7. Houston’s defense is among the best in the NBA and has allowed 104 or fewer in 4 straight games.

The Bulls are 3-5 ATS in their last 8 and are 1-2 ATS in their last 3 at home. They have not lost by a margin of 5 or fewer. Considering those trends, back ROCKETS -4.5 (-110).

Over/Under

BET UNDER 233.5 (-105).

The Bulls are 3-3 O/U in their last 6. They have gone Under in 3 of their 5 home games. Chicago will be facing a stout Houston defense as well.

The Rockets have gone Under in 3 of their last 4 games and are 5-8 O/U on the season. They are 1-4 O/U on the road this season. Houston has scored 107 or fewer in 3 of its last 5 as well.

Back UNDER 233.5 (-105).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Spurs Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron WireRookie Wire | List Wire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]

Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Houston Rockets (9-23) battle the Chicago Bulls (14-18) at the United Center Monday. Tip from the Windy City is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rockets vs. Bulls odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

The Rockets lost to the Dallas Mavericks Friday 112-106, but covered as 7-point home underdogs. That against-the-spread (ATS) cover pushed their season-long ATS record to 16-15-1. Houston is 4-5-1 ATS in its last 10 games. It’s been a rough season for Houston, ranking last in field goal percentage (44.3%).

The Bulls beat the New York Knicks 118-117 at Madison Square Garden Friday, covering as 5.5-point underdogs. That pushed their ATS record to 15-16-1 this season. Chicago, after failing to cover 3 in a row, has won and covered their last 3 as road underdogs in all 3.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Rockets at Bulls odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 9:48 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Rockets +270 (bet $100 to win $270) | Bulls -330 (bet $330 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +8.5 (-118) | Bulls -8.5 (-102)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

Rockets at Bulls key injuries

Bulls

  • G Lonzo Ball (knee) out
  • G Alex Caruso (acromioclavicular) out

Rockets

  • G Eric Gordon (thumb) questionable
  • G Jae’Sean Tate (tibia) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Rockets at Bulls picks and predictions

Prediction

Bulls 118, Rockets 113

Moneyline

PASS.

I think the Rockets keep it close and cover but would also pass on playing them to win outright at (+270). Houston is just 3-13 straight up on the road this season.

Against the spread

BET ROCKETS +8.5 (-118).

The Bulls have not been good at home this season, just 7-7 straight up and just 6-8 ATS. Despite having covered 3 straight, there still seems to be some chemistry issues between G Zach LaVine and F DeMar DeRozan. That could hurt their ability to pull away against Houston.

Chicago also doesn’t defend well and is even worse at defending the 3, ranking 22nd in opponents’ field goal percentage (47.9%) and 29th in opponents’ 3-point field goal percentage (38%).

The Bulls rank 21st in net rating with Houston 27th, so there isn’t a lot separating the 2 sides for how they’ve played this season. That said, given Chicago’s inability to defend and down their two best perimeter defenders, back the ROCKETS +8.5 (-118).

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 227.5 (-108).

The Rockets rank 17th in pace, and the Bulls rank 12th in pace. The tempo of this game, between LaVine, DeRozan and G Jalen Green, should be high.

The Bulls are 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10 games while Houston is 3-2 O/U over its last 5.

Want action on this NBA game or any other matchups? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in OH, CO and NJ. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron WireRookie Wire | List Wire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]

Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Monday’s Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls NBA betting odds and lines, with basketball picks, tips and predictions.

The Houston Rockets (4-7) are in the Windy City Martin Luther King Jr. Day for an 8 p.m. ET game against the Chicago Bulls (5-8) at United Center. Below, we analyze the Rockets-Bulls NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The Rockets split a two-game set at the San Antonio Spurs (1-1 against the spread) coming into Monday’s game. Houston traded former MVP James Harden as part of a four-way deal in which it received SG Victor Oladipo from the Indiana Pacers amongst other compensation. Oladipo is expected to make his Rockets debut Monday.

The Bulls snapped a four-game losing streak (3-1 ATS) by upsetting another Southwest Division team—the Dallas Mavericks—Sunday. Chicago went into its meeting with Dallas as a 6.5-point underdog but wrecked the Mavericks by 16 points, 117-101, with aggressiveness and ball movement. The Bulls attempted 14 more free throws (33-19 advantage in free-throw attempts) and threw 14 more assists (32-18 in assists).

Houston crushed Chicago 117-94 in the only regular-season meeting last season and the Rockets have covered five of their past six games vs. the Bulls. Obviously, the recent head-to-head history between the two is less meaningful since Harden is no longer with Houston following a nine-year stint.

Rockets at Bulls: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Rockets +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Bulls -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Rockets +1.5 (-110) | Bulls -1.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: Off the board as of this publishing

Rockets at Bulls: Key Injuries

Rockets

  • G Sterling Brown (leg) questionable
  • DeMarcus Cousins (ankle) probable
  • PG Dante Exum (calf) out
  • SG Eric Gordon (leg) probable
  • SF Danuel House (self-isolating) out
  • PG John Wall (knee) out

Bulls

  • PF Chandler Hutchison (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) out
  • SG Luke Kornet (not with team) out
  • PG Tomas Satoransky (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) out

Special NBA Betting Promotion!

Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game today. Promotion available in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer! MI residents, BetMGM is coming to your state soon — register early for special promotion.

Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Rockets at Bulls: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Chicago 119, Rockets 110

Money line (ML)

The Bulls have a ton of talent and they are starting to play well under first-year head coach Billy Donovan. Chicago is exceeding bookmakers’ expectations this season (9-4 ATS) despite playing the seventh-toughest schedule.

Houston is starting a new chapter and neither newly acquired PGs Exum (part of the Harden trade) and Wall (part of the Russell Westbrook trade) are available to play. This Bulls team has lost single-possession games vs. both Los Angeles teams recently and looked really in sync in its last game.

I’ll go with Chicago’s momentum and run with the BULLS (-120) for 1.5 units.

Against the spread (ATS)

PASS ON THE SPREAD.

While it’s understandable to be concerned about betting a team playing the second of a back-to-back, let me put you at ease for this situation. Chicago had its game against the Boston Celtics last week postponed and the Bulls had PF Lauri Markkanen return against the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday. It’s hard to imagine the Bulls are suffering from much fatigue.

Over/Under (O/U)

If a line is posted, I lean OVER up to 226.5 for a half-unit because any team can score against this terrible Chicago defense and the offense has strung together five straight 117-plus-point performances.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Also see: 

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]