The Chicago Bulls head to Wells Fargo Center where they will visit the Philadelphia 76ers in a battle of Eastern Conference rivals.
The Bulls are 33-47 SU on the season and they are currently occupying the 10th and final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago is just 1.5 games up on the 11th and 12th-seeded Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards, respectively. They are also 1.5 games off the 8th-seeded Atlanta Hawks.
The Sixers are 48-22 SU and are percentage points ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference team standings. Philadelphia has won 8 straight games and they are just 2.5 games behind the East leaders Milwaukee Bucks.
Chicago is coming off a 113-99 home win against the Miami Heat last Saturday. They were led by DeMar DeRozan who put up 24 points and 10 assists in the win. Nikola Vucevic also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Zach LaVine scored 18 points and had 7 assists.
The Bulls are scoring 113.5 points per game this season. They are also grabbing 42.7 rebounds per game and issuing 24.3 assists per contest. Lonzo Ball and Javonte Green are out for Chicago while Alex Caruso is listed as day-to-day.
Philadelphia defeated the Indiana Pacers 141-121 on the road last Saturday. The win was the 76ers’ 8th straight victory. Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while Tyrese Maxey also had a big game with 31 points and 7 assists. Tobias Harris also came up big with 24 points. The Sixers played without James Harden but the team played so well that they hardly missed his presence.
The Sixers are scoring 115.5 points per game this season. Philadelphia is also pulling down 40.8 boards grabbed per contest and handing off 25.2 assists per game. The team has listed forward P.J. Tucker as day-to-day.
The Bulls are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games played against the Sixers. Chicago is also 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played in Philadelphia.
Chicago Bulls SU trends:
Philadelphia 76ers SU trends:
The Sixers look to continue their winning ways. Philadelphia has won 8 straight games heading to this contest. In their last game, the 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 141-121 last Saturday night.
Joel Embiid scored 31 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and issued 7 assists, with two blocks as he continues to make his case for MVP. Embiid has overtaken Nikola Jokic as the betting favorite to win this year’s NBA MVP award. The Sixers’ big man has scored at least 30 points in 9 consecutive games, a new franchise record.
Their latest win put the Sixers in second place in the Eastern Conference team standings, just percentage points ahead of the now 3rd place Celtics. Philadelphia is now 2.5 games behind the East leaders Milwaukee Bucks with still enough games left to play.
Philadelphia has an impressive 26-10 SU record at home. However, the last time these two teams played in Philly, the Bulls ended the 76ers’ 11-game winning streak with a 126-112 upset win. Could lightning strike twice for the Sixers on Monday?
In that January 6 meeting, Zach LaVine made 11 out of 13 three-pointers while scoring 41 points as the Sixers played without Embiid. Nikola Vucevic also had a big game with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists as Embiid sat out the game with a sore foot.
The Bulls head to this game with a 33-37 SU record. Chicago has won four out of its last five games played and after Monday, these two teams will play again on Wednesday night in Chicago.
Last Saturday, DeMar DeRozan had 24 points and 10 assists in a 113-99 win over the Miami Heat. One game before that, DeRozan erupted for a season-high 49 points during a 2OT win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. LaVine scored 18 points with 7 assists while Coby White also had 18 points and Patrick Beverley added 17.
I’m pretty sure the Sixers still remember that last meeting, especially Joel Embiid. We all know that the outcome of that game would have been different had Embiid played. Not only is Embiid healthy right now, but he is also playing his best basketball of the season. The Sixers are on a roll and without Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, this Chicago offense looks different. Give me the Sixers to continue their winning ways.
Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers
The Bulls are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games played against the Sixers. Chicago is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 meetings played in Philadelphia.
Chicago Bulls ATS trends:
Philadelphia 76ers ATS trends:
The Sixers have dominated this matchup, going 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 head-to-head meetings. Philadelphia has outscored Chicago by 7.9 points per game during that span. They have also covered the spread in 8 out of their last 9 games against the Bulls, and 7 out of their last 9 meetings at home.
Philadelphia’s winning streak is bound to end soon but I don’t see the Bulls as the team that ends it.
Prediction: 76ers -7.5
The over is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings between these two teams.
Chicago Bulls over/under trends:
Philadelphia 76ers over/under trends:
Over
225 (-110)
Under
225 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 03/20/2023
These teams have combined to score an average of 221.3 points per game in their last 10 head-to-head meetings but 229.33 points per game in their most recent three head-to-head encounters.
The Bulls have hit over 225 points in three out of their last four games played. They have scored at least 113 points in each of their last six games played.
Philadelphia has scored at least 120 points in six out of their last 9 games played. They are averaging 126.13 points per game during their current winning streak and put up 141 against the Pacers the last time out. I like these teams to hit the over.
Prediction: Over 225
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