The 33-32 Clippers will host the 27-39 Bulls tonight, tipping off at 10:30 PM EST. The Clippers have listed Bradley Beal, Darius Garland, John Collins, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser as out. The Bulls have not yet submitted their injury report.
The Clippers are 13.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with the total for this game set at 233.5 points.
Clippers vs. Bulls prediction, preview
The Clippers will roll into this one playing some of their best basketball of the season.I t’s showing up in the efficiency margins too. They’ve ripped off five wins in their last six games, most recently featuring an electric 153-128 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on the back of Kawhi Leonard’s monster 45 point game in which he shot 15/20 from the field. In their last 10 games, the Clips are putting up 123.5 OFFRTG with a 115.7 DEFRTG. This team is getting downhill creation that leads to clean looks. This is reflected by their 51.1% shooting as a team during this stretch. They aren’t relying on big three point volume to score, either, with just 29.1 3PA in this span. This team has looked impressive with their new roster. Darius Garland is looking comfortable and Bennedict Mathurin is averaging a career-high 19.4 PPG over the course of his 13 game Clippers tenure. If Kawhi Leonard can maintain MVP form through the rest of this regular and post season, the Clippers have a real chance of a respectable playoff run.
The Bulls’ last 10 games haven’t been pretty, going 3-7 in this span while their offense has seriously stalled out with 108.7 OFFRTG and 115.2 DEFRTG. They just lost to the Lakers 142-130 despite Josh Giddey’s 27 point, 15 assist game. The Bulls let Luka Doncic hang up a disgusting 51 point double-double on 54.8% shooting. Doncic missed a triple-double by just one assist, but it was clear that Chicago had no answers for the superstar guard. In fact, Chicago has few answers this season for any type of strong offense. They rank 27th in OPPG, conceding 120.2 points per game to opponents. The Bulls will look towards Josh Giddey again to anchor their offense tonight against the Clippers on this second half of a back to back.
Clippers vs. Bulls pick, best bet
Best Bet: DAL Mavericks +13.5 (-112)
Chicago could easily win this game tonight if they get hot enough from deep. These two teams faced off back on January 20th, with the Bulls winning 138-110, and tying a franchise record with 25 made threes. But if the Bulls are counting on Ayo Dosunmu going 7-10 from the field with four triples and Coby White (who’s no longer there) hitting for six triples and 27 points, I don’t actually like their odds of pulling out a victory tonight. Additionally, Kawhi Leonard didn’t play in this game, and you’d have to imagine that his presence tilts things significantly. I’m counting on the Clippers to cover this spread tonight.
