Toronto Raptors Vs. Chicago Bulls: Predictions, Starting Lineups (1/30/24)
Can a Bulls team that is down two starters (Patrick Williams and Zach LaVine) hold off the Toronto Raptors on their home floor? Find out our Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls predictions and betting picks below, featuring an in-depth analysis of this Eastern Conference matchup!
Toronto Raptors Vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction
Have we seen the last of Zach LaVine in a Chicago Bulls jersey? Only time will tell; however, the Bulls have played fairly well in his absence (all things considered) this season, holding a 12-10 record.
Perhaps the ability to deploy more defensive-centric personnel has helped, or the chemistry with the team has improved because the ball doesn’t get quite as “stuck” on the offensive end of the floor.
Whatever it is, the Bulls are actually a decent team when they roll out Coby White, Alex Caruso, Jevon Carter, and Ayo Dosunmu in the backcourt; they even have deployed Caruso at the small forward position at times, which gives them fantastic switchability and defensive versatility on the perimeter.
The more we dig into Chicago’s play without LaVine, the more interesting it becomes. In his absence, the Bulls don’t have any “bad losses”; they dropped home games against Denver, Cleveland, and Indiana, three teams that are towards the top of the Eastern Conference, and for good reason. The rest of their seven losses came on the road against these teams: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat (they split road games), Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers. Every single team listed above is .500 or better on the season.
This is not an indictment on LaVine’s talent level but, rather, his fit with this team. Chicago has performed better when it hones in on the defensive end of the floor; the Bulls rank dead last in pace and score the sixth-fewest fastbreak points in the league, so they need to be great on the defensive end.
Ultimately, this Toronto team is too shorthanded to keep up with this Bulls team, especially since it could miss Jakob Poeltl again alongside R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. It could be a long, long night in Chicago if the Raptors have to start Thaddeus Young at center again.
Toronto Raptors Vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction: Bulls -6 (-115)
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Toronto Raptors Vs. Chicago Bulls Best Odds
On Tuesday night, the new-look (but shorthanded) Toronto Raptors are 5.5-point road dogs against the Chicago Bulls. Toronto has Moneyline odds of +190 to pull out an unexpected win in Chicago, while the Bulls are -230 favorites to secure their 15th home win of the season. The point total stands at 225.5 points, with -110 odds for both the Over and the Under.
Toronto Raptors Starting Lineup
PG: Dennis Schroder
SG: Gary Trent Jr.
SF: Bruce Brown Jr.
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Thaddeus Young
Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup
PG: Ayo Dosunmu
SG: Coby White
SF: Alex Caruso
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
Toronto Raptors Vs. Chicago Bulls Injuries
Toronto will be without two of its new players for its game against Chicago: Immanuel Quickley (quad) and R.J. Barrett (knee.) Meanwhile, Jakob Poeltl is questionable again with an ankle injury, so keep an eye on his availability because Toronto could struggle in its frontcourt if he cannot take the floor.
Meanwhile, Chicago has two of its starters sidelined for this Eastern Conference matchup against the Raptors, as Zach LaVine (ankle) and Patrick Williams (foot) will remain out. LaVine will likely be moved before the trade deadline in February, so he might not see any more tick for the Bulls. Torrey Craigh (heel) and Lonzo Ball (knee) are also out for this game.
