The NBA schedule took a break for election day and picked back up with 13 games scheduled for Wednesday. The New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls tip-off at 8:00 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago.
That was one of the most difficult venues to win in last season, and so far, the Bulls are 4-2 at home.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Chicago Bulls
The game will be carried on local networks, NBC Sports Chicago for Bulls fans and Bally Sports Network for Pelicans fans, and available to fans everywhere via NBA League Pass.
The teams split the season series last year, with each team taking care of the home court. But the Bulls have won three of the last four in the series.
Prior to that, the Pelicans had won six straight, and before that was the Bulls winning six straight.
All-time NBA Matchups
The all-time NBA matchups are few between the two, but the Bulls have 25 wins to the Pelicans’ 19 in 44 meetings.
Each team is .500 to start the season. Pelicans odds have not done well as they are 4-6 against the spread despite a 5-5 straight-up record.
Conversely, Bulls picks have done well as they are 6-6 straight up yet 7-4-1 against the spread.
Good luck with the Pelicans vs Bulls best bets, given the streakiness of the series.
Last Game Record
Pelicans’ Last Game Record
The Pelicans dug themselves a hole they couldn’t climb out of on Monday in a 129-122 loss to the Indiana Pacers. After trailing by three at the half, the lead ballooned to nine after three quarters.
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points with six rebounds, while Zion Williamson had 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
The duo combined to convert 5 of 7 3-point attempts. They couldn’t stop Myles Turner in the paint, though.
The veteran center registered a double-double with 37 points and 12 rebounds, including making all 11 free throws, to lead six scorers in double figures for Indy.
Bulls’ Last Game Record
Meanwhile, the Bulls took care of home court as their lead ballooned by 11 in the third quarter for a 16 points lead in a 111-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Zach LaVine suited up and scored 30 points on 20 shots, including four for eight on 3-pointers.
Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Nearby Rockford, Illinois native Fred VanVleet scored a team-high 27 points for the Raptors.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Chicago Bulls Analysis
NBA team stats show the Pelicans enter with the league’s best offense. They are scoring 118.5 points per game and are highly efficient in doing so.
They are second in converting 48.2% of field goal attempts and fifth in converting 38.8% of 3-pointers.
They’ve really grown in their rebounding, and Williamson’s return after sitting out last season with an injury has helped.
They are sixth in securing 45.8 rebounds per game while limiting opponents to 42.3 per contest, which ranks 10th defensively.
Pelicans’ Defense
Speaking of defense, the Pelicans need some work on that end. Playing with a higher pace plays a part in allowing 114.6 points per game, ranking 20th.
But the efficiency numbers could improve inside as opponents are hitting 46.8% of all field goal attempts, ranking 18th defensively, though they are fifth in holding teams to 33.2% behind the 3-point line.
Pelicans’ at the NBA Player Stats
The Pelicans have three players averaging at least 20 points per game NBA player stats show. Williamson leads the team, averaging 23.1 points, 6.9 rebounds (second), and 4.1 assists (third) per game.
Ingram, who has only played in six of the games, is scoring 22.8 points per game, while C.J. McCollum, who has appeared in all ten games, is averaging 20.3 points per contest.
However, the Bulls are not where they were a season ago when they led the Eastern Conference for the first few months.
They are 18th in scoring at 111.4 points per game, 21st in overall efficiency while converting 46.1% of field goal attempts, and 10th in perimeter shooting at 37.3% on 3-pointers. They are, however, third in free throws, converting 85%.
Bulls’ Defense
Defensively it is better, ranking 10th while allowing 109.3 points per contest. The defensive efficiency needs to improve, though, as they are 15th in holding teams to 46.3% from the field and 24th in allowing a 37.6% 3-point percentage.
LaVine has only played in eight games due to injury management but is scoring 21.9 points per game and converting 43.3% of 3-pointers. DeMar DeRozan has been valuable as he’s leading the team at 23.8 points per game to go with 4.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
Vucevic has been strong while averaging a double-double of 16.4 points and 12.3 rebounds per contest.
NBA Injury Report
LaVine is not listed on the injury report as of this writing. The Bulls do list backup guard Coby White questionable with a quadriceps injury.
Andre Drummond is still expected to miss more time with a shoulder injury, and Lonzo Ball is out until late December with a knee injury.
The Pelicans list Garrett Temple as questionable for personal reasons. Rookie E.J. Liddell is out indefinitely with a knee injury alongside young guard Kira Lewis Jr.
Odds Breakdown
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are opening favorites at -1 with -105 odds. With the game essentially a pick ’em, the moneyline odds are the same at -105.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls opened as underdogs at +1 with -115 odds, which are the same moneyline odds.
Pelicans vs. Bulls Betting Pick and Prediction
Betting trends in the matchup show the over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Chicago and 7-0 in the last seven meetings, regardless of location.
The Pelicans, despite losing several of these contests, are 9-3 against the spread in the last 12 meetings at the United Center.
While a point total isn’t available as of this writing, one can expect plenty of points to be scored with the league’s top offense and a below-average defense going up against another poor offensive unit.
Who to Bet On?
We start our Pelicans vs Bulls best bets by taking the Pelicans -1. Simply put, offense wins games, and they have a great one.
We continue our Pelicans vs Bulls best bets by betting on the Pelicans’ moneyline at -105.
NBA Pick: Pelicans (-105)
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