Bulls vs. Suns NBA Best Bets Today (March 18) (Archive)
The Phoenix Suns (56-14) host the slumping Chicago Bulls (41-28) on NBA TV this Friday evening. The Bulls have lost seven of their last nine games while the Suns maintain the best record in the NBA.
Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns
Friday, March 18, 2022 – 10:00 PM EDT at Footprint Center
The Suns (38-32 ATS) are a 6-point favorite over the Bulls (37-31-1 ATS) at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks. The only meeting between these teams this season was a 127-124 Phoenix win, but was it really that close of a game?
February 7 Recap: Suns 127, Bulls 124
Despite the final score, the Suns led for more than 46 minutes in Chicago in a game that had just one lead change. The Suns, a 6.5-point favorite, led by 18 points at halftime, 17 points to start the fourth quarter, and it was still a 127-112 Phoenix lead with 100 seconds to play.
Imagine the shock to bettors on both sides that this lead did not hold up for the Phoenix cover. Both teams emptied the benches and the Chicago reserves quickly scored 12 points, including a pair of late threes and a layup at the buzzer to produce the misleading final score. What a betting nightmare, or miracle depending on which side you had.
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The Suns made short work of Chicago’s mediocre defense, shooting 54.4% from the field and only missing two free throws. Devin Booker was hot with five threes on his way to 38 points. Chris Paul had 19 points and 11 assists, but the Suns have had to make it work without him since the All-Star break. Center Deandre Ayton (13 points and nine rebounds) fouled out in only 23 minutes of action, something he has only done one other time this season. He needs to stay in there against Chicago center Nikola Vucevic, who just got bullied by Utah’s Rudy Gobert (20 rebounds) on Wednesday night.
DeMar DeRozan (38 points) and Zach LaVine (32 points) delivered 70 points for the Bulls but got little help from their teammates. Still, it was more about the defense getting cooked through three quarters that sunk Chicago that day.
But can the offense still keep up with one of the best defensive teams on the road? Since the All-Star break, the Bulls are No. 25 in Offensive Rating, a huge drop from No. 4 prior to the break. Meanwhile, the Suns have gone from No. 3 in Offensive Rating with Paul before the break and are still No. 5 in Offensive Rating without Paul. Let's take a look at the matchup.
Recent Play: Suns Shining, Bulls Sleeping
When the Suns started 1-2 with two home losses out of the All-Star break without Paul, things may have looked dicey. But Booker returned from a brief COVID scare and the team has won seven of its last nine games, including some impressive triumphs against the Heat and Pelicans. Phoenix’s last three games have all been wins by at least 16 points.
Booker has made at least four threes in five of his last six games, his best three-point shooting stretch of the season. Chicago was just lit up by Utah’s Donovan Mitchell (nine threes) on Wednesday.
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The Suns just had four players score at least 21 points in Wednesday’s win over Houston with Torrey Craig (21 points, 14 rebounds) having a big impact in place of Jae Crowder. If Crowder’s groin keeps him out of action again on Friday night, the Suns are in good hands.
Since the All-Star break, the Bulls are 3-7 and have scored 115 points in a game one time. The Suns are 50-4 when holding teams under 115 points this season. Once DeRozan’s record streak of eight games with 35 points and 50% shooting ended, he has seen his numbers regress. In the last nine games, DeRozan is averaging 25.6 points and shooting 41% from the field. He was shooting 50.1% in the first 48 games this season even before his hot streak started.
Whether DeRozan is playing at an MVP level or not, the Bulls have struggled all season against elite teams. Against the eight teams currently ranked in the top four in each conference, the Bulls are 2-17. Both wins came on the days before and after Halloween too.
Prediction
Chicago is 5-12 ATS as a road underdog this season, the second-worst record in the league. Given that fact and the way the Bulls have played lately and against top teams, I am going to trust the Suns to take care of business at home for your NBA picks this Friday night.
As for a prop I like best, LaVine has had at least four assists in 15 of his last 18 games, including eight assists in the last game against Phoenix. I like him to get at least four if not five assists in this one to give Chicago a fighting chance.
NBA Pick: Suns -6 (-110) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
NBA Pick: Zach LaVine Over 3.5 Assists (-134) at Bovada
*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.