Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Matchup Preview (2/24/22): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Prediction

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Matchup Preview (2/24/22)

The Hawks and Bulls meet up for the third time this season with Chicago looking for the season sweep after beating Atlanta twice in three days earlier this season. Atlanta’s injuries were piling up around that time in late December with John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, DeAndre Hunter, and Danilo Gallinari all missing those two games. Collins is listed as doubtful for the game on Thursday, but there’s no question the Hawks will be healthier this time around. Will it be enough to take down the Bulls who are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference at 38-21? Let’s take a look at the odds.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Odds

Oddsmakers like the Bulls to win this game at home in their first action returning from the All-Star break, and I have to agree. Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine should pick apart Atlanta who ranks fourth-worst in the NBA in defensive rating. The Bulls were working on a five-game win streak prior to the break while the Hawks were an uneven 3-4 in their last seven games. With a healthier supporting cast, Trae Young and the Hawks are capable of making this game closer than it was in the matchups earlier this season. However, when push comes to shove, I trust DeRozan and LaVine to get it done in crunch time. I’ll take the Bulls to cover as short home favorites here with a slight lean to the over between two potent offenses.

My predictions: Bulls win 123-116, Bulls cover, over 230.5 points

TV Schedule

Date: Thursday, February 24
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Location: United Center – Chicago, IL
TV Coverage: NBCS-CHI

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Live Stream

Where can you watch Hawks vs. Bulls online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Hawks vs. Bulls Free Online Now.

Atlanta Hawks Analysis

While the Hawks have struggled on defense as I mentioned in the intro, their offense is one of the best in the NBA. They rank second right now with 113.9 points per 100 possessions. Of course, much of that is due to Trae Young who ranks fifth in the league with 27.8 points per game and sixth with a PER of 25.20. Young has been asked to do even more with John Collins sidelined as the Hawks have surrounded him with three shooters along with rebounding, rim-rolling big man Clint Capela.

Danilo Gallinari has been inserted into the starting lineup, and he provides a spark with his solid three-point shooting. The X-factor for the Hawks is Onykea Okongwu, the former #6 overall pick who has come on strong in recent weeks. Okongwu could end up playing a bigger role in this game should Clint Capela find himself in foul trouble while attempting to guard Nikola Vucevic. The Hawks were expected to make another leap this year after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but their inconsistent defense has limited their ability to rack up wins.

Atlanta Hawks Depth Chart

PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: DeAndre Hunter
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Clint Capela

Chicago Bulls Analysis

The Bulls have been one of my favorite teams in the NBA to bet on this season as they have so many different ways to attack opponents. With a 20-10 clutch time record and a league-leading 88.4% free-throw rate in the clutch, the Bulls take care of business when it counts. With a 113.4 offensive rating, they don’t rank too far behind the Hawks at fourth in the NBA. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine can take opponents off the dribble and score in a variety of ways while Nikola Vucevic is one of the most versatile offensive big men in the league.

Ayo Dosunmu has made a massive impact as a playmaker and defender with Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso out. Coby White can also make a big impact off the bench as he had been a scorching-hot 21 of 33 (63%) from 3-point range in his four games prior to the All-Star break. Javonte Green has also provided a solid presence on the wing as a physical 3-and-D player, and his importance has increased without Patrick Williams. Even with Ball, Williams, and Caruso out, the Bulls have a loaded roster that’s well-coached by Billy Donovan.

Chicago Bulls Depth Chart

PG: Ayo Dosunmu
SG: Zach LaVine
SF: DeMar DeRozan
PF: Javonte Green
C: Nikola Vucevic

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls Daily Fantasy Picks

With an over/under of 234.5 points ranking as one of the highest on the slate on Thursday, this game profiles as an excellent one to target for Daily Fantasy lineups. You can even run a game stack here by taking one or two players on each team. DeMar DeRozan ranks sixth in the NBA in fantasy points per game, and in the matchup against the Hawks, he’s arguably the top DFS option on the board on Thursday. Coby White is probably my favorite lower-priced option on the Bulls as he can catch fire off the bench and won’t be too heavily rostered.

For the Hawks, Trae Young is an obvious target with his 27.5 points and 10.0 assists per game against the Bulls this year. He should be very fresh coming off the All-Star break and could be looking to put on a show. Pairing him with Bogdanovic, Huerter, or even Hunter could be a great option as the Bulls allow the third-most fantasy points per game to small forwards. Feel free to throw Clint Capela into your lineups as well, but keep in mind that foul trouble could be an issue against Vucevic.