The Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls in NBA action on Thursday night. These Eastern Conference foes faced off just a week ago in Chicago, with the Bulls coming out on top in a close game that came right down to the wire.
Oddsmakers are expecting another close contest with NBA betting lines installing the Bulls as slim 1-point road faves tonight. Here are our free Bulls vs. Hawks picks and predictions for March 3, with tipoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Bulls vs Hawks odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
This line opened with the Bulls favored by 4.5 points with the Over/Under at 231.5. The line now sits at Chicago -1 with the total at 231. When these teams faced off last Thursday in Chicago, the Bulls won 112-108, covering as 2.5-point home favorites.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Bulls vs Hawks predictions
Predictions made on 3/3/2022 at 12:05 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Bulls vs Hawks game info
• Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Date: Thursday, March 3, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Southeast-ATL, NBC Sports Chicago
Bulls vs Hawks betting preview
Key injuries
Bulls: Patrick Williams F (Out), Lonzo Ball PG (Out), Alex Caruso SG (Out).
Hawks: Trae Young PG (Questionable), Lou Williams SG (Probable), John Collins PF (Out), Onyeka Okongwu PF/C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Hawks are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games versus a team with a winning record. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Hawks.
Bulls vs Hawks picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Spread analysis
These teams clashed last Thursday with DeMar DeRozan making a three-point play with just 15 seconds left to give the Bulls a 2-point lead they wouldn't relinquish. That victory gave the Bulls seven-straight wins (going 6-1 ATS over that span), but since then they have dropped back-to-back contests against the Grizzlies and Heat.
The Hawks are coming off a 107-98 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday night, and are 4-6 SU and ATS in their last 10 games. All-Star guard Trae Young (27.9 points and 9.3 assists per game), played through a first-quarter ankle sprain against Boston but is listed as questionable for tonight. Atlanta is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 29-32 record and can't afford to lose with the Wizards just one game behind for that final play-in spot.
The Hawks have been an offensive powerhouse ranking second in the league in offensive rating, but sit just 26th in defensive rating. That's bad news against a Bulls team that is fifth in the league in offensive rating despite missing Zach LaVine for several stretches over the last two months.
With LaVine and his 24.5 ppg in the lineup, the Bulls can fill up the hoop with DeRozan leading the team with 28.2 ppg and center Nikola Vucevic adding 17.9 ppg.
While the Bulls have regressed on defense since losing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to injuries in January, they're still marginally better than the Hawks in that area.
Chicago has simply been better than Atlanta this season, which would make us lean slightly towards the road team at close to a pick'em price even with a healthy Young. And with the Hawks' best player a game-time decision, we're even more confident in backing the Bulls.
Prediction: Bulls -1 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Bulls are fresh off a 99-point performance against the Heat where they went an ugly 7-29 from beyond the arc.
That said, they still shot a sizzling 61.8% from 2-point range in that contest and had averaged a whopping 120 ppg on 51 FG% in their previous 14 games. Now they face off against a Hawks squad that struggles on the defensive end of the floor.
However, the Bulls have had their own defensive struggles lately. Since Caruso joined Ball on the IL on January 21, Chicago is surrendering 114.1 ppg across 19 games. We're leaning towards the Over, but with such a high number we'd suggest waiting for Young's status to clear up before betting it.
Prediction: Over 231 (-110)
Best bet
DeRozan scored just 18 points in Monday's game against the Heat but the All-Star had been on a torrid pace heading into that contest.
DeRozan had scored at least 30 points in 10-straight games, averaging 36.9 ppg over that span. Now he takes on a Hawks team that doesn't defend well and allows opponents to shoot 46.2% from the floor — the eighth-worst number in the league.
DeRozan torched the Hawks for 37 points last week and also dropped 35 points when he previously played in Atlanta back in December.
The Over/Under on DeRozan's points total was set at 30.5 against Miami (or 29.5 but heavily juiced towards the Over in the -150 range), but is now 28.5 against a worse defensive team in the Hawks. Grab the Over.
Pick: DeMar DeRozan Over 28.5 points (-105)
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