Chicago Bulls (40-42) vs. Toronto Raptors (41-41)
April 12, 2023 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Toronto Raptors -5; Over/Under: 215
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors meet Wednesday in the East NBA Play-In at the Scotiabank Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Chicago Bulls are averaging 113.1 points on 49 percent shooting and allowing 111.8 points on 46.8 percent shooting. Zach LaVine is averaging 24.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan is averaging 24.5 points and 5.1 assists. Nikola Vucevic is the third double-digit scorer and Patrick Williams is grabbing 4 rebounds. The Chicago Bulls are shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 80.9 percent from the free throw line. The Chicago Bulls are allowing 35.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.4 rebounds per game.
The Toronto Raptors are averaging 112.9 points on 45.9 percent shooting and allowing 111.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting. Pascal Siakam is averaging 24.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet is averaging 19.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and O.G. Anunoby is grabbing 5 rebounds. The Toronto Raptors are shooting 33.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.4 percent from the free throw line. The Toronto Raptors are allowing 37.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43 rebounds per game.
The Bulls are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 road games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Wednesday games. The Raptors are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 home games and 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The under is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 Wednesday games. The under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 Wednesday games. The Bulls are 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings in Toronto and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
The Toronto Raptors head into this game playing the better ball, and we know how Raptors fans are come playoff time, as they pack the inside and outside. The home team has won each of the last 6 meetings between the Raptors and Bulls, and 8 of the last 10 meetings overall. The Bulls are 8-16-2 ATS as underdogs of 5 or fewer points. The line is reasonable. I’ll lay the reasonable chalk with the home team in the Raptors.
