Did you see Duke superstar Cooper Flagg dazzle over the weekend with 42 points on 14 shot attempts against Notre Dame? That does not have an immediate impact on a game like the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the Chicago Bulls, but it should have affirmed the New Orleans reality that it is time to give up on this season entirely.
Chicago has been too average to enjoy that clarity, apparently set to stumble along into the Play-In Tournament once again.
Those bigger-picture thoughts should be kept near the front of mind when looking at my Pelicans vs. Bulls predictions. Find out more in my NBA picks for Tuesday, January 14.
Pelicans vs Bulls prediction
My best bet
Bulls moneyline (-120 at bet365)
My analysis
Backing the New Orleans Pelicans tonight would be putting an awful lot of faith in a two-game stretch of improved play. The Pelicans have gone 2-0 against the spread and 1-1 outright in the last four days, with that 1-1 mark notable for a team that is a woeful 8-32 this year.
This two-game stretch has seen New Orleans attempt 38.5 threes per game, making 17.5 of them. Shooting 45.5% from deep might not stand out as entirely absurd, but realize the Pelicans were shooting just 33.6% from deep on 34.6 shots before these two games.
All due respect to C.J. McCollum, but how often can he be expected to go 6-of-11 from deep? Forward Jordan Hawkins went 5-of-11 against the 76ers on Friday, and then Trey Murphy shot 5-of-10 against the Celtics on Sunday.
None of that should be expected to continue, even though the Chicago Bulls have given up looks from deep more often than 27 other teams across the last month. Of those 40.7 threes attempted per night by Chicago opponents, only 33.8% of them have found the bottom of the net, No. 6 in the NBA.
Logic expects the Pelicans to revert to their usual problematic shooting, something the Bulls are designed to encourage. And those misses will burgeon Chicago’s tempo as the No. 3 fastest team in the NBA in the last month.
Frankly, New Orleans’ successes this week will play right into the Bulls’ hands.
Pelicans vs Bulls same-game parlay
Bulls moneyline
Jose Alvarado Over 5.5 points
Under 241
If anyone on the Pelicans’ roster is designed to excel in a frenetic game with a bounty of possessions and long rebounds, it is the pest known as Jose Alvarado. To be clear, “pest” is a compliment.
But mostly, focus on the total here.
The instinct may be to bet the Over due to Chicago’s preferred pace. In fact, that very much was the instinct.
However, Bulls’ totals have been inflated since Lonzo Ball’s most recent return. He has played every game since December 28, logging at least 19 minutes in each game. In that stretch, Chicago has cashed six Unders in eight games, falling short of the pregame total by an average of 9.9 points in regulation in those six Unders.
Pace is one thing, but if it is not combined with shotmaking, then Unders will still be prevalent.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Pelicans vs Bulls odds
Pelicans vs Bulls live odds
Pelicans vs Bulls opening odds
- Spread: New Orleans +2.5 | Chicago -2.5
- Moneyline: New Orleans +120 | Chicago -140
- Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Pelicans vs Bulls spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Pelicans opened as 2.5-point underdogs on Monday evening, a number that fell to +1.5 overnight.
- Clearly, there is an abundance of doubt in Chicago. However, with equal rest aside from travel, it is hard to place why there is that doubt.
- This total opened at a meager 232.5, steaming to 237.5 before most of the country was asleep on Monday and then climbing to 239.5 before sunrise.
- The total peaked at 242 late on Monday morning before settling at 241.
Pelicans vs Bulls trend
Chicago has gone 6-2 against the spread with Ball back in the lineup since Dec. 28, including 5-0 ATS at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Bulls.
How to watch Pelicans vs Bulls
| Location: | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Tuesday, 1-14-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | GCSEN, CHSN |
Pelicans vs Bulls latest injuries
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