The Toronto Raptors standings look much better than they did at the start of February. The Raptors (30-32) got hot, winning seven of eight games before Saturday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Perhaps it was a reward for president Masai Ujiri, who did not trade the core at the deadline.
They are trending upward, while the visiting Chicago Bulls (28-33) are even slipping from the play-in tournament. They are a half-game out of the 10th spot and are winners of consecutive games, but the Chicago Bulls schedule looks bleak as the season goes on.
But each team has something to play for as the NBA schedule shrinks. Only 1.5 games separate these two teams, with the Washington Wizards separating them. Tuesday’s game is important for playoff positioning, so here is our Bulls vs Raptors betting analysis.
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Odds
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Information
Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 7:30 PM ET.
How to Watch: NBC Sports Chicago | NBA League Pass
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Recent Scores
The Bulls and Raptors have 101 NBA matchups in the regular season. Chicago has an edge with 55 wins, while the Raptors have 46 wins. The two teams have traded victories in the last four games after the Raptors snapped a five-game Bulls winning streak.
The first two meetings this season were on back-to-back nights, Nov. 6-7, 2022. Toronto won 113-104 and covered a spread of four points the first night. Chicago responded with a 111-97 victory and covered a spread of two points.
Those making NBA picks today will be fascinated in that the Bulls are 12-4 against the spread in the last 16 meetings in Toronto and 23-9 against the spread in the last 32 meetings, regardless of location.
Here is a breakdown of our Bulls vs Raptors betting analysis by each team.
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Analysis
Chicago Bulls Facts to Know
The NBA team stats say the Bulls should be better, but they just are not winning enough games. It is a surprising reversal after they were the best team in the Eastern Conference and were dominant at the United Center for the first half of last season. But ever since, they have played well but not well enough to win.
The Bulls are 19th in scoring 113.2 points per game but are sixth in making 48.8% of field goal attempts and fifth in making 80.9% of free throw attempts. They are 16th in converting 35.9% of 3-point shots.
Defensively, the Bulls are 10th in limiting teams to 112.4 points per game. Chicago is also top 10 in holding its opponents to 46.7% on field goal attempts (ninth) and 35.0% on 3-point shots (10th).
Bulls struggle to turn statistics into victories
The numbers are there, and they play at a controlled pace, but it just has not translated to wins. In a six-game losing streak from February 7 to February 16, the Bulls had losses to the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers while the other four were to likely playoff teams (including a Brooklyn Nets team that traded superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant).
Chicago is 30-29-2 against the spread and 25-35-1 on over/unders this season. The Bulls are 10-20 straight up on the road. They are 17-15-2 against the spread as underdogs, including 7-3 when ‘dogs of 5 to 7 points. Somehow they are 2-6-1 against the spread on the road against teams with a losing record.
Toronto Raptors Facts to Know
The run of the Raptors’ success may be fool’s gold a little bit. Five of those seven wins during their recent stretch were against bottom feeders – the Detroit Pistons (twice), Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs – but they did beat projected playoff teams in the Memphis Grizzlies (on the road) and New Orleans Pelicans.
The metrics do not like a path forward for the Raptors, who have had horrible efficiency on both ends of the court, but at least there is room to grow.
Toronto Raptors struggle with efficiency
Toronto is 21st in scoring 112.7 points per game and ninth in allowing 112.2 points per game, showing a slower pace. But it is the efficiencies that rank fourth worst at both ends. That includes a 45.4% conversion rate on field goals and a 33.5% conversion rate on 3-point shots. Defensively it is a 48.9% field goal conversion rate for opponents and a 37.3% rate on 3-point shots.
The NBA player stats for the Raptors are solid, but it has not translated to wins. The team is 16-20 against the spread as favorites, including 2-5 when favored by 5 to 7 points. They are 8-6 against the spread at home against teams with a losing record. For the season, they are 30-32 against the spread, 34-28 on over/unders, and 19-13 straight up at home.
Updates
Part of the Bulls’ fall can be explained by their lack of guard depth. Lonzo Ball will miss the entire season with a knee injury and only played in 35 games last season.
The organization thought he could return in January when the season began, but that obviously did not work out. The Bulls are also without veteran point guard Goran Dragic (knee) until early March and off guard Javonte Green (knee) until later in the month.
Similarly, the Raptors lost Otto Porter Jr. for the season to a toe injury after eight games with his new team. Star guard Fred VanVleet, a native of Rockford, Illinois, not far from Chicago, is questionable Tuesday due to personal reasons.
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Preview
The NBA odds today show the Raptors are favored by five points with a point total of 221 points. The Raptors are -200 on the moneyline, while the Bulls are +165 on the moneyline.
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Prediction
Based on our Bulls vs Raptors betting analysis, we like the Bulls to cover +5. It should be a competitive game, but if VanVleet is out, that would seem to tip the scales in favor of Chicago, so we are banking on that some.
But if VanVleet is ruled in, we are comfortable with Raptors moneyline and their spread with the lack of depth at the point guard position for Chicago. Be sure to check the injury report 90 minutes before tip-off.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.