Free NBA Pick: Bulls vs. Cavaliers NBA Odds
Looking for Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers free NBA picks & NBA Odds? NBA betting sees the Bulls taking on the Cavaliers on Saturday, March 26th at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Bulls Cavaliers matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(42-31) Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-32)
Date: Saturday, March 26th
Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Moneyline Odds: Bulls +101 | Cavaliers -108 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -1
NBA Betting Total: 220.5
Saturday, March 26th the Chicago Bulls face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the fourth and final time this season. Chicago leads the series 2-1 with wins on January 19th (117-104) and March 12th (101-91) while Cleveland won the December 8th match (115-92).
Both teams last played Thursday each suffering critical losses with Chicago dropping their match 109-126 versus the Pelicans while the Cavaliers lost 104-117 to the Raptors.
This match has serious seeding implications as the fifth-place Bulls lead both the Cavaliers (sixth) and Raptors (seventh) by a single game with the prospect of any of the trio falling into the play-in tournament. Toronto hosts the Pacers so barring a surprise will likely net the win.
Last season the clubs played three times with Cleveland taking two of the three contests. The Bulls hold the all-time record with 131 wins in 225 matches versus the Cavaliers.
Chicago Bulls
In mid-January the Chicago Bulls were leading the Eastern Conference, a position they had held for much of the season to that point. Then, Zach LaVine got hit by an injury, Lonzo Ball injured his ankle and Alex Caruso suffered a broken wrist.
Initially, Chicago navigated those injuries and in particular the long-term absences of Ball and Caruso – – their best two defenders. DeMar DeRozan was playing the best basketball of his career and was a bonafide contender for MVP.
His clutch time calm and ability to score carried the Bulls through the storm but like most things that you push to their maximum eventually they run out of gas.
Perhaps it’s not quite as easily explained as simply blaming injuries because the Bulls have never performed exceedingly well versus the elite teams. Although they have Caruso back, LaVine is still managing his knee injury while DeRozan looks fatigued and is nursing a groin injury.
Nikola Vucevic is being exposed for the defensive shortcomings that plagued him in the playoffs during his playoff runs with the Magic and rookie Ayo Dosunmu seems to have hit a late rookie wall.
They’ve lost 10 of the last 13 and another loss today would push them to sixth with the hardest strength of schedule remaining between themselves, Cleveland and Toronto.
DeRozan (groin) missed the last game but many believe he was resting for this match given the critical seeding implications. He’s listed as probable as is Caruso (back) for Saturday. Ball (ankle) remains out indefinitely.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Although the Cavaliers hold the tiebreaker versus Toronto they are now tied and can feel the Raptors hot on their heels. Definitely not having Jarrett Allen hurt them on Friday when they fell to the Dinos who were missing Gary Trent Jr. and Malachi Flynn.
Still, aside from the opening frame of that match it was clear the Raptors have the more overall experience with Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby all part of the championship team from three seasons ago.
While the Raptors have been building momentum especially since the All-Star break the Cavaliers with the typical struggles of a young team with a lack of experience showing.
It doesn’t change what a great story this young Cavs team was this season, but it sure feels like it’s only a matter of time before they drop another rung. That could happen as early as tonight if Toronto beats the Pacers and the Cavs lose.
Rajon Rondo (toe) and Dean Wade (knee) are out Saturday. Jarrett Allen is out indefinitely while Collin Sexton (knee) is out for the season.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Chicago are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland’s last 6 games.
- Bulls are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 road games.
- Over is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 home games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chicago’s last 10 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 5 games at home.
Free Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Prediction
Again, the oddsmakers aren’t giving much with the single point spread. This match will be as close to playoff intensity as you’ll get a few weeks prior to an acutal postseason tip off.
Chicago isn’t great on the road, don’t perform well against elite teams or size, and their defense needs work. In contrast, the Cavaliers have lost a step, miss Allen, are struggling for offensive options as well as playmaking and aren’t adept at closing in the clutch (at least lately).
With DeRozan back, the Bulls will have the one player on the court used to and capable of managing the closing minutes having a very similar affect to what Chris Paul has in Phoenix.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Bulls +1
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