Bulls vs Pistons Predictions & Odds (Jan. 19)

• The Bulls vs Pistons odds favor Chicago by 7 points in Thursday’s matinee contest in Paris, France
• Chicago has won 12 straight matchups over Detroit including their lone meeting this season
• Check out the latest Bulls vs Pistons odds, plus analysis and a best bet

The NBA is going global this week with its sixth ever game in Paris, France. The league didn’t exactly send the most exciting matchup for French fans to enjoy, but there’s at least a local connection out of the Bulls vs Pistons contest.

That would be Detroit’s Killian Hayes, who grew up just four hours southwest of Paris, and also played professional ball in the area.

Online sportsbooks however, are not expecting a happy homecoming for Hayes and the Pistons on the scoreboard. They pegged Chicago as heavy chalk in the NBA odds, as the Bulls have absolutely dominated Detroit over the last few years.

Bulls vs Pistons Odds

Odds as of January 18 at Barstool. Claim the Barstool Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Bulls vs Pistons game.

Chicago is currently a 7-point favorite, in a contest that features a total of 236.5. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 pm ET at Accor Arena, with NBA TV providing the broadcast coverage.

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Bulls vs Pistons Betting Analysis

The Bulls have beaten the Pistons 12 straight times. That includes a 132-118 victory back in late December, their lone matchup of this season.

Neither team enters play in fine form. Chicago has dropped three of its past four, although they did knock off the Warriors last time out. Detroit meanwhile, has dropped five of six and own the East’s second worst record at 12-35. They’ve dropped 16 of 21 games since December 6th, and own the NBA’s third worst Net Rating.

NBA Bottom-5 Net Rating Ranks

Part of the Pistons struggles can be attributed to inexperience. They have have the league’s eighth youngest roster, led by a core of five players aged 21 or younger.

It was inevitable that such a young team would struggle defensively, and Detroit hasn’t disappointed in that regard. The Pistons rank second worst in scoring defense, yielding 119.5 points per game. They’re allowing opponents to shoot 49.3%, the second highest mark in the league, while also ranking in the bottom-10 in rebounding.

Offensively, the story isn’t much better. They average the seventh fewest points in the league, while boasting the fifth worst field goal percentage. Former number one overall pick Cade Cunningham is out for the season due to a shin injury, leaving Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey to pick up the slack.

Killian Hayes with the feed ahead to Jaden Ivey for the slam!#Pistons | @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/I7NHOrCkiq

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) January 15, 2023

Ivey has been the one of the lone bright spots this season, as the rookie is averaging 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game. He’d be in the NBA ROY odds conversation, if Paolo Banchero wasn’t running away with the award.

Back to Chicago now, who were playing spectacularly before their current skid. The Bulls had won eight of 11, beating NBA Championship odds contenders Brooklyn and Philadelphia along the way.

Chicago’s skid coincides with DeMar DeRozan’s quad injury. The Bulls leading scorer missed most of the team’s last three losses, but isn’t on the injury report ahead of Thursday’s contest.

Chicago has been relying heavily on DeRozan all season for offense, but lately he’s been getting plenty of help from Zach LaVine. The 27-year-old is averaging 29 points per outing, and has cleared 40 points twice in his last 10 games.

Zach LaVine COAST-TO-COAST SLAM 💨🤯pic.twitter.com/sOIhpqBaO4

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 15, 2023

After a slow start to the season, the Bulls rank seventh in offensive rating over the past 15 games and should have no problem putting up a high total against the Pistons.

Bulls vs Pistons Predictions

Only four teams have seen a greater percentage of their games go over the total than Detroit. The over is 12-7 in their last 19 games, and easily hit when these two teams played in December. The Pistons defense is surely to blame, but their offense is set up to be able to punch back in this meeting versus Chicago’s below average defense.

Chicago’s over/under record is right around .500 for the season, but since the offense has started to heat up more and more of their games have been clearing the total. The over is 9-4 in their last 13 games, with the Bulls producing at least 118 points nine times during that stretch.

Pick: Over 236.5 (-110)