Chicago Bulls (42-30) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (30-42)
March 24, 2022 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +1; Over/Under: +230
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Bulls invade the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.
The Chicago Bulls have been in a rut as they’ve lost four of their last five games and they will be hoping for a better showing after getting thrashed by the Bucks in a 126-98 road loss on Tuesday. Nikola Vucevic led the team in scoring with 22 points on nine of 15 shooting, while DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scored 21 points, but no other player scored more than seven points. As a team, the Bulls shot just 42 percent from the field and 13 of 33 from the 3-point line as they struggled to find their offense and managed just 20 points in the first quarter to fall into an early double-digit deficit which only grew as the game wore on as they got next to nothing from their bench players. Coby White had a night to forget as he scored just five points on two of 10 shooting while Alex Caruso finished with just three points on one of five shooting as he continues to play off the rust.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in decent shape as they’ve won three of their last five games, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after falling just short to the Hornets in a 106-103 road loss on Monday. CJ McCollum led the team with 27 points and six assists, Jonas Valanciunas racked up 24 points with 18 rebounds and five assists while Naji Marshall chipped in with 14 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 44 percent from the field and nine of 24 from the 3-point line as they looked to be in control after building a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, before the Hornets closed the final 7:05 on a 19-8 run to snatch the game from them in the end.
Looking at the betting trends, the Bulls are 5-17-1 ATS in their last 23 road games and 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games overall. The Pelicans are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning record, 5-1 ATS in their last six games playing on two days’ rest and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
Head to head, the over is 6-0 in the last six meetings overall and the Bulls are 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings in New Orleans.
The Bulls are going to be shorthanded in this one as DeMar DeRozan is listed as questionable due to a strained left adductor, while the Pelicans will be without Brandon Ingram who is listed as doubtful with a hamstring strain. You can make an argument for either side here in what should be close game, but the Pelicans should be well-rested in this one and they will surely have the advantage if the Bulls’ DeRozan isn’t able to suit up.
