Bulls vs Raptors Odds Preview: Raging Bulls Can Run Through Toronto

Could Bulls Be First 10-Seed to Win a Play-In Game?

Bulls are Underdogs in Low-Scoring Matchup

The surging Chicago Bulls head to Toronto looking to become the first 10th-seeded team to win a game in the Play-In Tournament. The Bulls vs Raptors odds expect them to lose as Toronto is favored by 5 points and is -210 on the moneyline. But Chicago’s defense, which has been elite since the NBA Trade Deadline, will make this a grueling game that could produce an upset and the lowest total (214.5) of the tournament.

Bulls logo Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors Raptors logo

Date & Time:
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Streaming: ESPN

Recent Form: Bulls are Charging While Raptors are Slipping

Toronto may be favored by the Bulls vs Raptors odds, but this team will not earn confidence from bettors. On the surface, the Raptors have won 11 of its last 12 home games and are 9-2 in Toronto against Chicago. But upon closer inspection, this team has not beaten an opponent worth a damn since Denver back on March 6.

The Raptors have been beating the lottery teams like Charlotte and Detroit or shorthanded contenders like Miami and Milwaukee. That’s why it’s tough to trust Toronto given these NBA matchups. The team looks good on the stats sheet. It’s in the top 12 in both offensive and defensive ratings. But the eyeball test signified something else.

The team’s offensive execution is spotty at best and all too reliant on two or three players. Toronto also averages the second-fewest bench points (28) and assists (4.3) per game. It’s expected from a team loaded with forwards but lacking in guards. Thankfully, Toronto has solid defense even if its rating is padded by beating hapless teams.

The Bulls, on the other hand, are trending in the right way. Not only does the team have the All-Star tandem of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine lighting up the NBA player stats, but the team’s defense has surged. Maybe it’s the Patrick Beverley effect as the energetic guard has instilled some feistiness in this team.

Chicago is the NBA’s second-best defense (110.1) since he debuted. The Bulls beat the likes of Philadelphia and the Lakers in their own arenas along with Miami and Memphis. The team is 14-9 and 13-10 against the spread (ATS) during this span. More notably, the Bulls also feature a player that has extra incentive to play better this Wednesday.

DeRozan’s Revenge Looms in Key Matchups

DeRozan may be a mild-mannered person. But he lights up opponents on a frequent basis. The six-time All-Star averaged 24. points on 50.4 percent shooting this season. However, he was almost a no-show going against his old team, the Raptors. Chicago lost two of the three games.

Consider this an aberration as DeRozan tends to spark his former team. In 13 games versus Toronto, DeRozan averages 21.5 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 53.2 percent from the field. Last season, he scored at least 26 points in three games versus Toronto. It’s also a city in which he’s more than comfortable.

“That was home for me. It was everything for me,” he said as reported by The Athletic. “The way they embraced me, everything. Even if I tried to, it’s nothing I could ever possibly say was wrong with Canada — other than getting double-taxed. I would never be a villain in Toronto.”

And DeRozan is not the only star Toronto has to contend with. LaVine dropped 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting in his last appearance against Toronto. The Bulls won by 14 points and more than covered their Bulls vs Raptors odds. It will be up to DeRozan’s old teammates like Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby to slow him and LaVine down.

Also, Nikola Vucevic could play a pivotal role for Chicago in the frontcourt. He’s averaged a double-double (15.5 points and 10.4 boards) when facing Toronto. Center Jakob Poeltl has stabilized Toronto’s interior position. He’s putting up 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Toronto is 9.2 points better when he’s on the floor. This is a matchup that could decide the outcome of this game.

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