Bulls vs. Pacers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions (1/24/23)
Sports betting analyst Nick Galaida gives his best NBA pick for today’s Bulls vs. Pacers game — Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
Bulls vs. Pacers Odds
- Bulls -2
- Pacers +2
- Over/Under 234
- Date Tue, Jan. 24
- Time 7:00 p.m.
- TV NBC Sports
On Tuesday, the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers will battle in an intra-division affair at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Entering play, Chicago (22-24) and Indiana (23-25) both currently own a play-in position in the Eastern Conference standings. In this matchup, oddsmakers are expecting a competitive game script, pricing the Bulls as 2-point road favorites on the spread.
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Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
- No rust after vacation
In their first game since returning from Paris, Chicago easily handled the Atlanta Hawks last night 111-100. In the victory, DeMar DeRozan led the team with 26 points, with both Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams contributing at least 18 points as well.
Chicago’s big three of DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic combined for 60 points, 24 rebounds, and 15 assists in the winning effort.
- Vucevic making bid for all-star game
In 10 January games, Vucevic is averaging 20.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on an efficient 56.4% shooting from the floor. Entering play on Tuesday, he has recorded a double-double in 11 consecutive games, with one triple-double included in that stretch of action.
Tonight, he gets a favorable matchup against an Indiana team that ranks 21st in defensive efficiency and 12th in rebound percentage across their last seven games.
Vucevic has secured 13 rebounds or more in five of his last seven games on zero days rest. Expect another strong performance from him this evening.
Indiana Pacers Betting Preview
- Haliburton OUT
In 40 games with Tyrese Haliburton in uniform this year, the Pacers are 22-18. In his absence, the team is 1-7. Since he last played on January 11, Indiana ranks dead-last in Net Rating. During their seven-game losing streak, they have been outscored by 12.7 points per 100 possessions.
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pacers rank in the 68th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 32nd percentile in defensive efficiency with Haliburton on the floor this season, compared to the 10th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 39th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
- Who will step up for Indiana?
Per CourtIQ, Bennedict Mathurin (+3.5%) sees the largest increase in usage with Haliburton off of the court. In these situations, Mathurin is averaging 25.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per 36 minutes of action. In six games since Haliburton was injured, Mathurin is averaging 18.2 points, with two games of at least 23 points.
Bulls vs. Pacers – Picks & Predictions
Though the Chicago Bulls are undeniably the more talented team in this matchup, bettors should be cautious to not overinvest in a team that has a 9-14 record on the road this season.
Playing away from the United Center, Chicago ranks worse than league average in defensive efficiency, and they have been particularly poor defending the perimeter – ranking 25th in opponent three-point attempts per game and 17th in opponent three-point percentage.
In six games since Tyrese Haliburton last played, the Indiana Pacers rank eighth in three-point attempts per game, but only 28th in three-point percentage. Positive regression could be in store for this team on Tuesday night as they look to put an end to avoid losing their eighth consecutive contest.
Expect both of these teams to have an easy time scoring the basketball against defenses that lack the ability to make life difficult for their opponents. Take the over in this spot.
- PICK: Over 234 (-110, DraftKings)
