There is a giant meteor barreling towards the Earth that is the Toronto Raptors season.
Things are dire in Toronto as the Raptors have lost nine of their last 10 games heading into tonight’s road game vs. the Chicago Bulls. To make matters worse, the Raps will be without RJ Barrett, while Immanuel Quickley is doubtful to play.
Do the Raps have value as road pups in this evening's NBA odds? I break down this Eastern Conference matchup and bring you the best bet in my NBA picks and predictions for Raptors vs. Bulls on January 30.
Raptors vs Bulls odds
Raptors vs Bulls predictions
The luster of the Toronto Raptors' trades has dimmed with the team losing nine of its last 10 games, including a 116-110 defeat to the Chicago Bulls on January 18. However, the most recent loss for the Raptors could be considered particularly disheartening.
Toronto is coming off a 126-125 defeat at the hands of Atlanta, where the Hawks scored on a last-second put-back to win the game.
RJ Barrett has already been ruled out for tonight's game against the Bulls, Immanuel Quickley is listed as doubtful, and most notably, Jakob Poeltl has been upgraded to questionable.
It’s no coincidence that the Raptors big man has missed this horrific 10-game stretch, as the team’s defense and rebounding went down the drain as a result. But if Toronto gets Poeltl back, that changes everything.
First, it extends the team’s bench with Barrett and Quickley out. And more importantly for this matchup, Poeltl can defend the pain with Nikola Vucevic on the other side. Simply put, the Raptors need his presence in the middle.
The Bulls rank 23rd in offensive rating and 27th in effective field goal percentage. And like the Raptors, the Bulls are also dealing with some injuries. Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams are both out for the next little while and that certainly won’t help an inconsistent offense.
Chicago will need to rely on its defense in this one, ranking 14th in rating and 18th in opponent eFG%. The Bulls should be able to hold up against a banged-up Raptors team that ranks 24th in offensive rating during this 10-game slump.
Mix in the fact the Bulls play at the slowest pace in the NBA, and I like this game to fall below the total.
My best bet: Under 227 (-110 at PointsBet)
Raptors vs Bulls same-game parlay
Under 227
Alex Caruso 4+ assists
Gary Trent 3+ threes
Just because I’m expecting a low-scoring affair in the Windy City, doesn’t mean the game will be completely devoid of offense. Tonight, I’m looking at a couple of players who will take advantage of added opportunities thanks to the injuries on both sides.
Let’s start with Alex Caruso. The feisty Bulls guard is known for his high energy and defense, but he’s upped his playmaking recently as well. Caruso is averaging 3.7 assists per game over his last seven games, dishing out four or more dimes in three of those contests.
And let’s close this SGP out with Gray Trent Jr. to keep cooking from deep. Since being re-inserted into the Raptors starting lineup six games ago, the sharpshooter has been on fire. Trent is draining a crazy good 51.2% of his attempts over that stretch, hitting at least three shots from beyond the arc four times. With the Bulls allowing the second-most made threes per game, add Trent to make 3+ tonight.
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Raptors vs Bulls spread and Over/Under analysis
The Raptors opened this Eastern Conference matchup as 6.5-point road dogs. That’s what the Covers Consensus line is as of early Tuesday afternoon, but some 6s are starting to pop up on the board.
These teams last met on Jan. 18, with the Bulls prevailing by six as 2.5-point chalk. That said, I don’t mind the Raptors as underdogs here, particularly if Poeltl suits up. The slow pace of the game and poor perimeter shooting from both sides will help the underdog keep this close.
When it comes to the total, that hit the board at 226.5 and is now up to 227.5 at some shops. But as I broke down above, I like the Under in Chicago tonight.
Raptors vs Bulls betting trend to know
The Raptors have played to the Under in six of their last seven games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Bulls.
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Raptors vs Bulls game info
| Location: | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Tuesday, January 30, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, NBC Sports Chicago |
Raptors vs Bulls latest injuries
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