Free NBA Pick: Cavaliers vs. Bulls NBA Odds
Looking for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Cavaliers taking on the Bulls on Saturday, December 31st, 2022 at the United Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Cavaliers-Bulls matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(22-14) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls (15-19)
Date: Saturday, December 31st
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
NBA Moneyline Odds: Cavaliers -160 | Bulls +150 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Cavaliers -3.5
NBA Betting Total: 224.5
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Saturday, December 31st, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls are playing the second of four scheduled meetings. Cleveland won the initial match 128-96 on October 22nd. The Cavs will host the final two matches on January 2nd and February 11th.
The Cavaliers last played Thursday losing 126-135 to the Pacers while the Bulls are completing a back-to-back set pummeling the Pistons 132-118 on Friday.
Last season the clubs played four times with Chicago taking three of the four contests. The Bulls hold the all-time record with 132 wins in 227 matches versus the Cavaliers.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Friday evening, December 30th. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Saturday, December 31st.
Cleveland Cavaliers
While the Cavaliers continue to be one of the top-tier teams in the East they are still a club learning how to win and deal with the accolades that are associated.
Each time they separate themselves from the pack pulling closer to the Celtics they stumble seemingly buying into their own hype. And while they have Donovan Mitchell who is a bucket getter what makes this team dangerous is their defense.
They forgot that on Thursday facing the new Cinderella squad (the Pacers) and paid the price for it.
Offensively, Cleveland scores 111.5 points per game ranking 23rd while shooting 48.2% from the field and 36.8% on the perimeter ranking seventh and 12th respectively.
Cleveland tops the league for opponent scoring limiting foes to an average of 106.3 points per game. Cavs opponents shoot 46.1% from the field (7th) and 24th in their perimeter defense with opponents shooting 36.6% from deep.
Robin Lopez (illness) is probable while Darius Garland (thumb sprain), Evan Mobley (ankle), and Cedi Osman (back) are questionable for Saturday. Dean Wade (shoulder), Dylan Windler (ankle), and Ricky Rubio (ACL surgery) are out.
Chicago Bulls
All eyes remain on the Bulls to gauge if there is a cut-off point for Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley when they would flip from trying to upgrade to win this season versus pulling the plug.
It’s hard to envision the Bulls starting from scratch after just reshaping the roster a few seasons ago and without a young talent to build around it’s even more difficult to simply start over.
Clearly, the three names who’ll top the shopping list are DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic with any or all potentially moving if things go south. LaVine’s 43-point effort against the Pistons might move him up the list for at least momentarily.
Chicago scores 113.6 points per game ranking 16th while they shoot 48.3% from the field and 36.8% from the perimeter ranking sixth and 11th respectively.
Defensively, they allow 115.0 points per game ranking 18th. Their opponents shoot 47.7% from the field and 37.4% from the perimeter ranking 22nd and 29th respectively.
Derrick Jones Jr. (ankle) was the lone questionable Bull who didn’t play Friday so presumably is questionable again. Lonzo Ball (knee) is out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Cavaliers are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
- The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- The Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Over is 4-1-1 in the Bulls’ last 6 home games.
Free Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Prediction:
The Bulls are .500 (3-3) in the second night of back-to-back sets so by no means are they a pushover. DeRozan has been fiery during this recent run that resulted in Chicago winning five of six after the four-game losing streak (oddly the only loss was to Houston).
Four of Cleveland’s six road wins occurred prior to November 10th, since then they are 2-9 on the road. The uncertainty of Garland and Mobley playing has me vacillating — I elected to take the points but the Cavs to win.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Bulls +3.5
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