Free NBA Pick: Bulls vs. Wizards NBA Odds
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2022 NBA Handicapping
(1-0) Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards (1-0)
Date: Friday, October 21st
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Spectrum Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Bulls -118 | Wizards -120 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Wizards -1.5
NBA Betting Total: OFF
Friday, October 21st the Chicago Bulls play the Washington Wizards for the first time this season. Both teams arrive having won their opening night matches. The Bulls shocked the Heat winning 116-108 while the Wizards hung on to beat the Pacers 114-107.
The Bulls registered a 3-1 preseason record while the Wizards had a lackluster preseason posting a 1-3 record.
Last season the clubs played three times with the Bulls sweeping all three contests. The Bulls hold the all-time record with 129 wins in 236 matches versus the Wizards.
Chicago Bulls
Last season the Bulls got out to a hot start but struggled down the stretch and were particularly ineffective versus the home-court seeds in the East posting a 1-14 record.
Facing the team who won the East in their opening game without the services of Zach LaVine or Lonzo Ball in Miami the Bulls refused to send up the white flag.
DeMar DeRozan was the best player on the floor putting up an amazing line of 37 points (14-22), nine assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Nikola Vucevic produced a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds while Ayo Dosunmu (17), Goran Dragic (12), and Coby White (10) were the other double-figure contributors.
With the Heat struggling early (particularly Bam Adebayo who kept whiffing on bunnies) DeRozan helped Chicago pull away. By game end it was the Heat who dominated paint scoring while fast break scoring and rebounding was even.
Ultimately, DeRozan was the difference maker and the reason Chicago won.
Zach LaVine sat out the home opener with the club citing ‘load management’ as the reasoning but given his questionable listing for Friday perhaps his knee is bothering him again.
Lonzo Ball will miss a few months minimum as he rehabs from yet another knee surgery that occurred to clean up the debris in his sore knee.
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis made their season debut alongside hanging on to capture the victory versus the Indiana Pacers.
Beal led the team with 23 points plus five rebounds and six assists. Kyle Kuzma (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Porzingis (15 points, 10 rebounds) each produced double-double performances.
Will Barton (14) and Daniel Gafford (12) were the other double-figure contributors.
Deni Avdija (ankle) was forced to leave the match Wednesday and is questionable for Friday. Vernon Carey Jr. is day-to-day with a concussion while Corey Kispert (ankle) is out between four and six weeks.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Bulls are 9-19 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
- The Wizards are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
- Under is 5-1 in the Bulls’ last 6 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in the Wizards’ last 4 overall.
- The Bulls are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Washington.
Free Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards NBA Prediction:
While both clubs won their opening matches it’s important not to ignore their shortcomings. Each team is missing pieces of their core due to injury but there are still issues on defense each side has to address.
Eventually, if Lonzo Ball returns that will help the Bulls but they still have to make up for the defensive shortcomings of others in their starting lineup.
As great as DeRozan is, opponents will game plan to attack him in the postseason, and let’s not even get started on Vucevic’s defensive failings defending the pick and roll.
Likewise, Beal isn’t known as a strong defender and will need his teammates to take great strides if the Wizards are going to be anything more than a team vying to get the final play-in berth.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Bulls +1.5
Health could dictate this match but I’m leaning toward the Bulls more than the Wizards based on personnel and greater versatility.
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