New Orleans Pelicans set out to face the Chicago Bulls
The New Orleans Pelicans set out on their first road game of the year to take on the Chicago Bulls. They started the season off with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-97.
They’ll look to get their first win against a Bulls team coming off a win on the road. Unfortunately, Zion Williamson is still out, which deals a massive blow to the team.
The Chicago Bulls started their season with a road game against the Detroit Pistons. The game was hard-fought but wound up as a win for Chicago.
This game against the Pelicans will be their first home game of the year. As Chicago laces up to take on the Pelicans at home, bettors are wondering who the best team to take is. Let’s take a look at what each team brings to the game.
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New Orleans without Zion isn’t nearly as dominant
Zion Williamson has struggled with injuries since he first entered the NBA. At this stage, it’s hard to tell whether this will be a lingering problem in his future.
The biggest problem is that without Zion, the Pelicans struggle to win games. His interior presence alone is enough to propel teams to victory, but is it enough to cover the spread?
Without him in the lineup, the pressure falls on Brandon Ingram to do the heavy lifting. Ingram doesn’t have anywhere near the rebounding skill of Williamson, though.
This is going to be a big problem for the Pelicans against the Bulls. Chicago was able to grab 48 rebounds against the Pistons and will likely get more against New Orleans.
Led by Zach Lavine, the Bulls look to win their home opener
This game has to be exciting for the Bulls. It’s a brand new team, and even with their opening loss, they have a bright future. Zach Lavine was able to knock down 34 points in his first game, and he’ll only get better. Add to that the efforts of Demar DeRozan, and you’ve got a recipe for a good team.
Without Zion Williamson in the lineup for New Orleans, this game becomes easier for Chicago. Still, they can’t underestimate the Pelicans’ offense and get caught slipping.
This home game is going to be huge for fans, and Chicago won’t want to lose this one in front of their fans. The only problem is that BetUS has the Bulls favored by seven points, quite a large spread.
Let’s take a look at the spread
The Chicago Bulls come in at -7 per BetUS and Bovada in this game which is a lot of points in the NBA. Covering that many points in the home opener could be tough for Chicago.
The Bulls only scored 94 points to open the season, and it was against Detroit. Although the Pelicans are without Zion, they’re still a better team than Detroit.
We have to be fair to the Pelicans for losing to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and would be a tough challenge for anyone.
For New Orleans, this game against Chicago is a much better matchup. They’re actually facing a team that doesn’t have a serious advantage over them.
Our NBA Pick for Pelicans vs. Bulls: New Orleans Pelicans +7
You might think we’re crazy for this NBA pick, but you’ll want to take this at the sportsbook. The Bulls are a much better matchup for the Pelicans, making this game much closer.
The Pelicans also have the benefit of knowing what they need to fix after their first game. Suffering a loss like that will put a lot of things into perspective.
They likely won’t be able to beat Chicago, but they should be able to keep it within seven points. Brandon Ingram is coming off of a great game, and it’s his team to command now. With the Pelicans desperate for a win, expect them to cover the seven-point spread on Friday.