Dallas Mavericks (14-24) vs. Chicago Bulls (17-20)
January 10, 2026 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Bulls -2.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Dallas Mavericks travel to the United Center to battle the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Here’s a Bulls vs Mavericks Prediction. This article will include a Bulls vs Mavericks Pick.
Dallas Mavericks Betting Preview
The Dallas Mavericks have been in poor form as they’ve lost seven of their last 10 games overall, but they were enjoying a two-game win streak before they got stopped by the struggling Jazz in a 116-114 loss on Thursday. Cooper Flagg led the team with 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on 10 of 18 shooting, Klay Thompson added 23 points with five assists off the bench while Anthony Davis tallied 21 points with 11 rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Mavericks shot 52 percent from the field and 15 of 36 from the 3-point line as they overcame a slow start and worked their way to a seven-point lead with just 4:39 left in the fourth quarter, before they allowed the Jazz to go on a decisive 12-0 run to lose by two points in the end.
Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been in a slump as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall. Because they had their last game postponed, they haven’t seen the court since Wednesday when they got routed by the Pistons in a 108-93 road defeat. Ayo Dosunmu led the team in scoring with 24 points off the bench, while Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 20 points but no other player scored more than eight points. As a team, the Bulls shot 43 percent from the field and 13 of 34 from the 3-point line as they showed plenty of fight to keep pace with the Pistons for most of the contest until the fourth quarter. They went cold and scored just 16 points to allow the Pistons to pull away at the end.
Why the Chicago Bulls will win
- The Mavericks have lost each of their last 10 road games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The home team has won 14 of the Mavericks’ last 16 games.
- The Mavericks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine road games.
- The home team has covered the spread in 15 of the Mavericks’ last 16 games.
Why the Dallas Mavericks will win
- The Bulls have lost five of their last six games as home favorites.
- The underdogs have won six of the Bulls’ last eight games at United Center.
- The Bulls have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games as home favorites.
- The Mavericks have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents following a loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Mavericks’ last five games as road underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.
- Six of the Bulls’ last seven games as home favorites have gone UNDER the total points line.
Chicago Bulls Player Facts
- Nikola Vucevic has recorded 14+ rebounds in two consecutive appearances – equal-longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Tre Jones ranks 9th amongst qualified players for assist:turnover ratio (4.0) this season.
Dallas Mavericks Player Facts
- Klay Thompson ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for three-pointers made per 36 minutes (4.5) this season.
- Max Christie ranks 5th amongst qualified players for 3P% (45.5%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Bulls rank 29th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (12.6).
- The Bulls rank 29th in the league for H2 opponent points per game this season (60.7).
- The Mavericks rank 1st in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (33.1%).
- Eight different Mavericks players have scored 25+ points in a game this season – equal-most in the league.
Bulls vs Mavericks Prediction
The Mavericks are still missing PJ Washington, Brandon Williams, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving, while the Bulls have ruled out Josh Giddey with Jalen Smith and Kevin Huerter both listed as questionable. It’s hard to pick games when both teams are missing so many key players, but the Bulls are well-rested, and they are playing at home, which is why they are slight favorites. The Mavericks can still get the win if Cooper Flagg has a big game, but the Bulls have the edge in depth in this matchup, and I think they get the win behind big games from Dosunmu and Vucevic.
