Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls Betting Pick
13 May 2021
Toronto comes into this game with a record of 27-42, and they are in last place in the Atlantic Division. The Raptors have also lost four straight games, and they are stumbling into the end of the regular season.
Chicago has gone just 29-40 on the year, but they still have a shot at finishing in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls recently won three straight games, and they need to finish the regular season by winning every game.
The Chicago Bulls are 9.5-point favorites over the Toronto Raptors.
Raptors Struggling to Score
The Toronto Raptors have been hit hard by injuries and COVID-19 illnesses this season, and it has taken its toll on the offensive production. Toronto is averaging just 111.4 points per game, and they have failed to score at least 100 points in each of the last two games.
Pascal Siakam leads the team with 21.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, but he has yet to really turn the corner into being a superstar. Toronto is going to have to shoot the ball well on Thursday night to beat the Bulls.
The lack of offense has also hurt the defense for Toronto as they are giving up more than 112 points per game. This team has just not been able to put together a run this year, but they will be looking to improve this offseason.
Defense Letting Bulls Down
The Chicago Bulls can point to their lack of defense as the biggest reason that they will most likely miss the playoffs this season. Chicago is giving up nearly 114 points per game, and they really struggle to get stops against good teams.
Chicago does have a pair of All-Stars on the roster now, and Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are both capable of taking over. LaVine leads the way with 27.5 points per game, and Vucevic is able to record a triple-double at any time.
The Bulls want to turn this game into a high-scoring affair, but they also have to find a way to get stops when needed.
Raptors Cover, Bulls Win
Chicago can score the basketball, but they just haven’t been able to get enough stops on defense to consistently win games. Fortunately for the Bulls, Toronto is not an explosive offensive team, and that will allow them to create some separation.
Getting into the play-in tournament still seems like a long shot for the Bulls, but they should be able to stay in the race by winning this one.
This game means much more to the Bulls than it does to the Raptors, and they will find a way to get the job done at home. Take the Toronto Raptors +9.5 on Thursday night, but it will be the Bulls that pick up the win at home.
Keep up with your latest NBA news coverage and betting pick previews with The Dunkel Index.
