Free NBA Pick: Raptors vs. Bulls NBA Odds
Looking for Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Raptors taking on the Bulls on Wednesday, January 26th, 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 Raptors Bulls matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(23-22) Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls (29-17)
Date: Wednesday, January 26th
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
NBA Moneyline Odds: Raptors +174 |Bulls -187 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Bulls -4
NBA Betting Total: 220.5
On Wednesday, January 26th, the Toronto Raptors are on the road to face the Chicago Bulls for the second of their four meetings this season. Chicago won the initial match on October 25th (111-108). The Raptors will host once more on February 3rd while the teams will wrap up the season series in Chicago on March 21st.
This is the make-up game for the earlier postponement (due to COVID). Toronto is playing the second game of a back-to-back set having pounded the Hornets 125-113 on Tuesday while the Bulls won a squeaker 111-110 versus the Thunder on Monday.
Last season, the teams played three times with the Bulls sweeping the season series. The Bulls hold the all-time record having bested the Raptors in 52 of their 96 matches.
Toronto Raptors
Nick Nurse needs to find some help for his starters who can’t continue to log the minutes they are without it eventually wearing them down. On Monday, two rumors signified the Raptors may be taking steps to shore up their bench either directly or via trades.
One rumor suggested Goran Dragic may make an appearance with the team this week, no doubt to remind teams seeking a veteran guard that he’s available. The second rumor centered around the possibility Toronto is interested in trading Malachi Flynn.
The latter coincided with Toronto sending Flynn, Dalano Banton, and by his own request Yuta Watanabe to play for their G-League affiliate Raptors 905.
Based on their performances with the 905 the extra reps paid dividends especially for Banton (31 points, four assists, four rebounds) and Watanabe (double-double: 24 points, 10 rebounds). The pair combined for seven 3-pointers.
This move proved to be timely as Fred VanVleet (sore knee) and Scottie Barnes (swollen wrist) were both out on Tuesday. Nurse went ultra big to start the game putting the primary playmaking role in Pascal Siakam’s hands who flirted with a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds.
Gary Trent Jr. delivered a season-high 32 points while OG Anunoby posted 24 points. Banton (10 points, rebound, three assists, three blocks) and Flynn (11 points, three assists) both carried over their confident play.
VanVleet, Barnes, Khem Birch (fractured nose), and David Johnson (quarantine) are all questionable.
Chicago Bulls
While Zach LaVine made his return to the court the Bulls got a taste of what life will be like for the next six to eight weeks. Sure DeMar DeRozan sat for rest but in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso the Bulls are missing arguably their two best defenders and another set of playmakers.
On top of that they are without another defender, Patrick Williams for the season who they lost early in the campaign due to thumb injury.
On Monday, without those players available the Bulls jumped on the Thunder building a lead of 27 points but barely hung on winning by a single point. And this from the worst offense in the NBA.
Suffice to say things are going to get interesting at the top of the leader board in the East over the next two months.
Vucevic (knee) is probable while Tyler Cook (eye) is questionable. Derrick Jones Jr. (knee), Ball (knee), and Caruso (wrist) are out indefinitely. Williams (thumb) is out for the season.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Raptors are 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 games.
- The Bulls are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto’s last 9 games.
- The Bulls are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against an East opponent
Free Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Analysis:
DeMar DeRozan always gets motivated to play the Raptors (and the Bulls rested him versus OKC) but if anyone knows his tendencies it’s Nick Nurse. In fact, the Bulls player who the Raptors have owned is Nikola Vucevic going back to his days with the Magic.
Chicago has the rest advantage and LaVine back and will offer much more defensive resistance than the Hornets but the Raptors’ length will also be an issue for the undermanned Bulls.
Toronto is 5-2 in the second games of back-to-backs losing to the Nets in overtime and the other coming on the third game of the season.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Raptors +4
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