Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 3/14/21
2021-03-14 21:00:00 EDT
The Chicago Bulls play host to the Toronto Raptors at the United Center on Sunday night.
The Toronto Raptors have been in a real slump lately as they’ve lost six of their past seven games and they will be hoping to snap a four-game skid after last night’s 114-104 road loss to the Hornets. Kyle Lowry led the team with 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Chris Boucher added 16 points off the bench while Norman Powell chipped in with 13 points. As a team, the Raptors shot 38 percent from the field and 15 of 46 from the 3-point line, but this game was over before it really began as the Raptors were always fighting a losing battle after allowing the Hornets to explode for 44 points in the first quarter. The Raptors trailed this one by as many as 27 points, before making a late run in the fourth quarter to keep the final scores respectable.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been in a bit of a rut as they’ve lost four of their last five games and they will be hoping to put an end to a two-game skid after falling to the Heat in a 101-90 home loss on Friday. Zach LaVine led the team with 30 points and six assists on 10 of 16 shooting, Lauri Markkanen added 20 points while Thaddeus Young chipped in with 13 points, but no other player finished in double figures. As a team, the Bulls shot 37 percent from the field and 15 of 38 from the 3-point line as they climbed their way back into the contest by holding the Heat to just 13 points in the second quarter, before going cold in the fourth quarter where the took the game away with a pivotal 11-2 run.
Looking at the betting trends, the Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games, 5-2 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games, 6-0 ATS in their last six games against a team with a losing record and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
Head to head, the over is 15-6 in the last 21 meetings overall, the Raptors are 7-16 ATS in the last 23 meetings overall and the Raptors are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Chicago.
The Raptors haven’t looked anything like themselves during their four-game slide as they’re just dealing with so many injuries and players out due to health and safety protocols, while the Bulls have been in a rut of their own as they’ve lost four of their last five. The Raptors don’t have any players returning for this one, so they will be severely shorthanded once again, so I’m leaning towards the Bulls to take advantage in this spot.
