The Bulls haven’t been good for much this year, but they have covered the spread in five of their last six games on a back-to-back, and that’s the situation they’re in when Portland comes to the United Center tonight. The visiting Trail Blazers are 7-point favorites with the total Sportsbook at 219.5.
Trail Blazers vs Bulls Game Center
Standout Stats
- Portland is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road games and also 8-1-1 ATS in its last 10 games vs teams from the Central Division. In its last three games against the Bulls, Portland has covered the spread in all three, winning by an average of 10.6 points.
- Chicago is 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in its last six games on a back-to-back. That run includes straight-up wins vs Boston, Washington and Philadelphia. The Bulls also covered the spread last night in Toronto, losing 112-103 as 14.5-point dogs.
- Since the all-star break, the Trail Blazers are the second-highest scoring team in the NBA at 119 points per game. They also have the No. 4 scoring differential at 6.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Chicago is No. 11 in scoring since the break at 112.4 points per game but sits 26th with a -6.1 point differential.
- Portland has the No. 2 floor percentage (possessions resulting in points) at 51.1 percent. This number has jumped to 55.6 percent in its last three games. Conversely, Chicago scores on just 47.7 percent of its possessions – No. 29 in the Association. Chicago’s floor percentage is just 46.4 percent over its last three games.
- Portland is 9-3 SU and ATS as a visitor in the Eastern Conference this season. The Blazers are also 21-5 SU and ATS overall vs opponents from the other conference. Suffice it to say that they are comfortable with their position entering tonight’s game.
- Since losing CJ McCollum to injury, the Trail Blazers are 4-0 SU with an average winning margin of 6.3. But they now face further adversity with Jusuf Nurkic suffering a season-ending leg injury on Monday.
- The total has gone OVER in the last four games in this matchup with an average combined score of 233.5. With the scoring pace that these teams have been on here in the second half, a totals play might not be a bad look tonight.
My Best Bet for Trail Blazers vs Bulls
OVER 219.5
The average combined score in the last three meetings between these teams is 237.3, while both teams have been playing to more than 219.5 points routinely in their last 10 games.
I also think the Blazers will cover this spread as Portland has been one of the best teams in the league in the second half of the season and has had a ton of success vs the Eastern Conference. In the Bulls’ recent losses, they have lost BIG.
