The Knicks (1-3) finally earned their first win of the season last night, beating Detroit 111-97. Now, the defending champs will play the second leg of a back-to-back in Chicago. It’s still a rebuild for the Bulls (1-3), a team that possesses several intriguing young players. Can the home team pull off an upset this evening against New York?
The Knicks enter today’s matchup as 7.5-point favorites, with the total set at 233.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Wednesday’s New York vs. Chicago contest.
Knicks vs. Bulls prediction, preview
The Knicks finally got off the schneid, picking up their first win since Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Still, it’s not as if there was ever any real cause for concern. After all, we’ve seen this roster go through the motions in years past. With that being said, several key players have looked sluggish to start the new season. That’s especially true for Mikal Bridges, averaging 5.5 points per game on 27.3% shooting. New York’s bench is putting up just 26.3 points per game as well, third-fewest in the association. As a unit, the reigning champions are averaging the association’s second-fewest points per game (104.0). Even superstar Jalen Brunson hasn’t been very efficient so far (36.6 FG%).
On the other hand, this defense remains one of the NBA’s elite units. Stellar work on the glass has helped; the Knicks rank sixth in rebounds per game (47.8). That’s due in large part to Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the few New York players that’s gotten off to a fast start. Through four games, the center has notched 22.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 60% from the field. On Tuesday, KAT racked up 27 points and 20 rebounds against the Pistons. The six-time All-Star has scored at least 27 points in seven of his previous nine meetings with Chicago.
It’s been a difficult start for the Bulls, most recently suffering a 35-point loss on Monday in Boston. This is a young, relatively untested group. Unsurprisingly, Chicago has pushed the tempo in an effort to get easy buckets. The team has posted an NBA-high 107.5 pace, a category they ranked second in last season. Five different players on the active roster are putting up double-digit points per game, including rookie Caleb Wilson (21.0 PPG). However, lackluster shooting from deep has hampered any scoring efforts. The Bulls are only knocking down 23.8% of their three-point attempts, worst in the association.
Defense has been an even bigger issue in the Windy City. Opponents are racking up a whopping 129.5 points per game against the Bulls, most in the NBA. The continued absence of center Nic Claxton (hamstring) hasn’t helped in that regard. Chicago’s defense is tied for the fourth-worst opponent three-point percentage (39.0%). To make matters worse, the Bulls have committed the association’s fifth-most personal fouls per game (26.0). Recklessness on defense has put this group of youngsters in an early hole more often than not.
Best Bet: Bulls +7.5 (-115)
The Knicks are clearly the more talented team taking the court this evening. Still, the second leg of a back-to-back, on the road no less, is never easy. That’s especially true when your opponent has a day off. Chicago’s knack for pushing the pace makes them a particularly frustrating team to face on short rest. New York’s offense will eventually put it together this season, but I’m not sure it kicks into full gear tonight. Back the home team to cover in what should be an entertaining matchup.
