Knicks vs Bulls Odds and Picks
- The Chicago Bulls are 1.5-point home favorites over the New York Knicks on Thursday (Oct. 28th, 8 pm ET)
- Chicago is the lone remaining undefeated team in the East at 4-0, while New York is off to a solid 3-1 start
- Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction
We may only be four games into the NBA season, but the Eastern Conference standings look a lot like they did in the early 90’s. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are currently the top-two teams in the conference, with just a single loss between them.
At 4-0, the Bulls are off to their best start since 1996, and will look to make it five straight victories when they host the Knicks on Thursday (Oct. 28th, 8 pm ET).
Knicks vs Bulls Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | +106 | +1.5 (-106) | O 215 (-110) |
| Chicago Bulls | -124 | -1.5 (-114) | U 215 (-110) |
Odds as of Oct. 27th at FanDuel.
Chicago opened up as a 1.5-point favorite, in a game that features a total of 215. The Bulls made major changes to their roster over the offseason, headlined by the additions of Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. Only three players who began last season on the team are still on the squad, but so far chemistry certainly hasn’t been an issue.
DeRozan Dominates Versus Former Team
Chicago is fresh off a 111-108 road victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday, in a contest that pitted DeRozan against his former team. DeRozan, the Raptors all-time leader in games and points, took control in the fourth quarter pouring in 11 of his game-high 26, spoiling a late Toronto charge.
DeMar DeRozan is clutch!
26 points | 6 assists | 4 rebounds pic.twitter.com/fcTaWJZyi2
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 26, 2021
The Bulls jumped out to a 20-point first half lead, but nearly gave it all back down the stretch. Zach LaVine scored 22, while Nikola Vucevic added 17, and Ball chipped in 15 on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
LaVine, Chicago’s leading scorer through four games, aggravated a thumb injury on his left hand on Monday, and an MRI the following day revealed a small ligament tear. The Bulls have not ruled out sitting him down if the discomfort becomes too severe, but he told the media he plans to play through the injury just like he did versus the Raptors.
Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine has a small ligament tear in the thumb of his non-shooting hand but intends to play through the injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. It’s a matter of pain tolerance and LaVine wants to play as Chicago starts the season 4-0.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2021
LaVine is shooting 50% from the field this season, including 44% from three, and is a big reason why Chicago leads the NBA in three-point field goal percentage.
The Bulls are also among the league leaders in a handful of key defensive categories, but that may be a product of a pretty soft schedule – more on that later.
Knicks New Additions Pave the Way Versus 76ers
New York meanwhile, bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 112-99 drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, the Knicks primary offseason additions, led the way with 19 and 18 apiece, while Julius Randle racked up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Home W's are always special.
Ju: 16 PTS | 11 REB | 7 AST
RJ: 10 PTS | 7 REB
Kemba: 19 PTS | 5 AST
Evan: 18 PTS (6-10 FG)
D-Rose 13 PTS (4-7 FG)
Obi: 9 PTS | 4 REB
Quick: 8 PTS pic.twitter.com/XKj8nHCmAG— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 27, 2021
The victory snapped a 15-game losing streak versus Philadelphia, and the New York defense deserves a ton of credit. The Knicks did a masterful job shutting down Joel Embiid, holding him without a field goal in the first half. Embiid finished with only 14 points on 2-of-7 shooting, while New York held the Sixers to 43% from the field, and 29% from beyond the arc.
https://twitter.com/23savage____/status/1453514251268730882
The Knicks have held their opposition to the third lowest shooting percentage in the league, while yielding fewer than 100 points in two of four contests.
Knicks vs Bulls Pick
Before we go ahead and crown Chicago the East favorites, let’s take a look at the competition the Bulls have faced through four games. They’ve played Toronto, New Orleans, and Detroit twice, three teams with a combined 2-9 record entering play on Wednesday.
They’ve yet to post a statement win, and while Thursday’s matchup versus New York represents an opportunity for them to do so, I wouldn’t overlook the Knicks.
Starts on defense.
Rose ➡️ Randle pic.twitter.com/teA8kBbRTF
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 27, 2021
New York is a more complete team than Chicago, with better depth. The Knicks are also averaging 11 more points per game than the Bulls despite playing a tougher schedule, but New York’s biggest advantage is on the glass.
The Knicks rank eighth in the NBA in total rebounding, while the Bulls rank dead last. Expect New York’s dominance on the glass to lead to plenty of second chance buckets, and ultimately provide the difference in a close contest.
Pick: New York Knicks +1.5 (-106)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
