The Chicago Bulls aim for a second straight victory when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA playoffs on Friday. The Bulls knocked off the Bucks by a 114-110 margin on Wednesday, evening the best-of-seven matchup at 1-1. Milwaukee now attempts to take the series lead on the road with Game 3 looming. Khris Middleton (knee) and George Hill (abdominal) are out for the Bucks. Lonzo Ball (knee) and Matt Thomas (leg) are out for the Bulls.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as the 2.5-point favorite for this 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 222.5 in the latest Bucks vs. Bulls odds. Before making any Bulls vs. Bucks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters the first full week of the 2022 NBA playoffs on a stunning 86-56 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bulls vs. Bucks, and just revealed its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Bucks vs. Bulls:
- Bucks vs. Bulls spread: Bucks -2.5
- Bucks vs. Bulls over-under: 222.5 points
- Bucks vs. Bulls money line: Bucks -145, Bulls +125
- MIL: The Bucks are 2-6 against the spread in the last eight games
- CHI: The Bulls are 5-5 against the spread in the last 10 games
Featured Game | Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Why the Bucks can cover
While the Bucks are shorthanded in the absence of Middleton, Milwaukee still has strengths to exploit on both ends. The Bucks are holding the Bulls to 99.5 points per 100 possessions in the first two games of the series, and Chicago is shooting 40.5 percent from the field, the worst mark in the NBA playoffs 2022. Milwaukee is also winning the rebounding battle by a solid mark, securing 75.7 percent of available defensive rebounds and 27.6 percent of available offensive rebounds.
The Bucks are traditionally elite on the defensive glass, No. 2 in the NBA this season, and Milwaukee also landed in the top eight of the NBA in free throw prevention, fast break points allowed and points allowed in the paint during the regular season. On offense, the Bucks have scuffled through two games, but Milwaukee ranked in the top five of the NBA in offensive efficiency during the regular season, scoring 114.3 points per 100 possessions. Milwaukee is also in the top eight in 3-point accuracy (36.6 percent) and 2-point accuracy (54.4 percent), with above-average marks in turnover prevention and free throw creation.
Why the Bulls can cover
Chicago is an explosive offensive team, and the Bulls are playing quite well on defense so far in the series. The Bulls scored nearly 1.13 points per possession during the regular season, with top-four marks in field goal percentage (48 percent), 3-point percentage (36.9 percent) and free throw percentage (81.3 percent). Chicago also takes care of the ball at a high level, committing only 12.8 turnovers per game in the regular season and giving the ball away on only 11.9 percent of possessions in the first two games against Milwaukee.
In contrast, the Bulls are forcing a turnover on 17.7 percent of defensive possessions against the Bucks, and Milwaukee is also shooting only 64.8 percent from the free throw line. Overall, Chicago is allowing less than a point per possession against Milwaukee, and the Bucks will be in a weakened state without Middleton as a primary option on the wing. The Bulls have a powerful scorer in DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 29.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the series, and United Center should be electric for Game 3.
How to make Bulls vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, projecting 231 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Bucks vs. Bulls picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Bulls vs. Bucks? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Bulls vs. Bucks spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
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