Bulls vs. Pelicans NBA Preview and Odds Analysis (Archive)
The Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans both may be missing their leading scorer Thursday night when the Bulls visit the Big Easy. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated books?
Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, March 24, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at Smoothie King Center
One of five NBA games on Thursday’s schedule and no TNT doubleheader because of the NCAA Tournament. This wraps up the season series between the Bulls and Pelicans, and Chicago looks for a second straight sweep. Way back on October 22nd, you know when we thought that Pels star Zion Williamson would play this season.
The Bulls were 6.5-point home favorites at the NBA odds board and beat New Orleans 128-112. Zach LaVine had 32 points, DeMar DeRozan 26, and former Pelican Lonzo Ball 17 points and 11 assists. More on DeRozan and Ball below.
New Orleans was led by Brandon Ingram (see below) with 26 points, while Devonte' Graham had 21. That was well before the Pelicans had traded for CJ McCollum from Portland. The Bulls have covered the NBA betting spread in 16 of their past 21 in New Orleans.
DeRozan Probably Sitting for the Bulls
The big question Thursday is whether Bulls All-Star and MVP candidate DeMar DeRozan will play, and my guess would be no. He is listed as questionable with a left adductor strain. DeRozan, fourth in the league in scoring at 27.6 ppg, rarely shows up on the injury list, so that tells me something. The Bulls need to get him 100 percent right ahead of the playoffs.
Chicago is 2-2 without him. DeRozan last missed a game on January 24 in Oklahoma City and the Bulls squeaked by the terrible Thunder 111-110. The Bulls also are listing fellow All-Star Zach LaVine, 14th in the NBA in scoring at 24.5 ppg, as probable.
He’s battling knee trouble that will not get 100 percent right until the offseason and is on the injury report before every game, but LaVine should be out there. DeRozan and LaVine are the NBA’s highest-scoring duo. Coach Billy Donovan can’t just tank a game or two and rest both because the Bulls are trying to avoid the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
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The Bulls are an easy team to handicap, at least from a win or lose perspective. They lose to the NBA’s good teams and beat up on the bad ones. Chicago was embarrassed in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The team has been one of the NBA’s worst on defense for months.
It was hoped the return of second-year forward Patrick Williams from a long injury absence Monday would help, but not so much yet. He hasn’t been much of a factor in the two games, averaging 6.5 points in about 18 minutes.
Starting point guard Lonzo Ball, another key defender, hasn’t played in months and recently had a setback. At this point, it would be a surprise if he’s back by the end of the season. Chicago acquired Ball from New Orleans this offseason in a sign-and-trade. The Bulls sent Garrett Temple, Tomas Satoransky, a 2024 second-round draft pick and cash to New Orleans.
Chicago is 2-10 ATS on the NBA picks in its past 12.
Ingram Still Likely Out for Pels
New Orleans (30-42) is 1.5 games up on San Antonio for the final Western Conference play-in spot, and it was made official this week what I think we all expected: Zion Williamson will not be playing at all this year.
Yet for some reason, Zion posted a clip to his Instagram story this week showing him at the Pelicans facility throwing the ball off the backboard, catching it, and going between his legs before finishing with a left-handed dunk. So is he healthy enough to play or not?
Forward Larry Nance Jr., who had surgery on his right knee on February 11th, has yet to play for the Pelicans since being acquired in the February trade that brought CJ McCollum to New Orleans. Nance might actually play tonight as he’s listed probably.
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The bigger news would be the return of leading scorer Brandon Ingram (22.8 ppg), who has missed the last eight with a strained hamstring. Sounds like it won’t be Thursday as he’s listed doubtful. New Orleans is 5-17 without Ingram and 25-25 with. Devonte' Graham (12.3 ppg) returned from a one-game injury absence Monday in a loss in Charlotte but was very ineffective with two points in 25 minutes. He’ll play.
New Orleans is one of the better rebounding teams in the NBA at 45.6 per game. Jonas Valanciunas is third in the NBA in total rebounds (760) and sixth in rebounds per game (11.5). Chicago is one of the league’s worst rebounding clubs at 42.6 per game.
Should the Pels be leading after three-quarters of this game, which I think is likely, they are 14-0 at home when doing so and 24-5 overall. Shoot, when it leads at halftime at home, New Orleans is 12-1. Between the rebounding discrepancies and likely no DeRozan, we are backing the home side. New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its past five games.
NBA Pick: Pelicans +1 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.