Raptors vs. Bulls Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Toronto Raptors get their first look of the season at the Chicago Bulls on Sunday as the Dinos visit the Windy City in the second of a back-to-back. Chicago is a 3-point favourite to win on the NBA odds with a total of 229.5 points.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These clubs were supposed to play their first meeting of the season on Feb. 28 in Tampa, Fla., but that was postponed by COVID issues with the Raptors. It’s not clear when/if that game will be made up. For now, the teams are scheduled to play once more and that’s back in Chicago on May 13 near the end of the regular season.
It could be that the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference comes down to the Raptors and Bulls, so winning the season series could have crucial tiebreaker importance. Chicago has been largely carried this season by first-time All-Star Zach LaVine – he has taken a big leap forward in the 2020-21 campaign. Maybe not a Top 10 player in the NBA yet, but not far off.
The Bulls have two potential trade candidates in veteran forwards Otto Porter and Thaddeus Young, but they may stand pat and push for their first postseason spot since 2017. Billy Donovan, formerly of the Oklahoma City Thunder and University of Florida, is in his first season as Bulls coach.
Toronto has followed an 11-game losing streak in this series with a 12-game winning streak. The Dinos are 5-1 against the spread in their past six games in Chicago.
Toronto Raptors
Once again, we have to predict a Dinos game not knowing whether Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam (and reserves Patrick McCaw and Malachi Flynn) will play. They all missed another game Saturday due to COVID protocols, a 114-104 loss in Charlotte, and most likely will not go here. Toronto shot just 38.5 per cent against the Hornets with no player reaching 20 points. Four of the five starters had a rating of at least minus-23. The Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their past seven games as underdogs.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is 0-2 out of the All-Star break, with both losses coming at home, after a 101-90 loss to Miami on Friday. Coach Billy Donovan will shake things up for this one, moving guard Coby White and Wendell Carter Jr. to the bench and starting Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky. It’s a bit of an odd decision considering neither Young nor Satoransky are part of the future – although Young has been great off the bench, so this could be a way of showcasing him. Guard Garrett Temple (8.5 ppg) is out with an ankle sprain. The Bulls don’t have any Canadian players on their roster.
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