The Toronto Raptors continue to put on one of the worst tank jobs in recent memory, mostly because they continue to win.
They've won four in a row, and one of their tanking strategies is front and center heading into tonight’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls.
My Raptors vs. Bulls predictions highlight a player prop for a certain Toronto big man who clocks in every other game. Check out my NBA picks below for April 1 below.
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Raptors vs Bulls prediction
My Raptors pick: Jakob Poeltl 20+ points (+340 at PointsBet Canada)
My analysis
The Toronto Raptors are trying to tank and yet, they're still winning games. That's partly due to their Charmin soft second-half schedule. For instance, this four-game winning streak includes matchups with the 76ers, Hornets, Nets, and Wizards.
It’s not for a lack of trying, though. The Raptors have been putting guys on and off the injury report since the All-Star break, and on top of that, it's become regular practice for them to pull impact players in close games; it just hasn’t mattered. The team is well-coached under Darko Rajakovic and is playing good defense.
Luckily (unluckily?), Toronto will play a game against a team trying to win in the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls sit in the 10th and final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference and are 5-point home favorites in this matchup. Funny enough, the Raptors are the only team that can catch them now.
The Bulls actually rank 10th in net rating since the All-Star break, but they aren’t without their flaws, and must deal with the Raptors’ tanking scheduling quirk. That's the one-game-on, one-game-off routine for center Jakob Poeltl. Since the start of March, Poeltl has sat out every other game, with rest generally being the designated reason.
The funny thing is, Poeltl has been uber-efficient when he’s been on the court. The big man is averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in just over 24 minutes per game over the seven games he’s played since this started.
The Bulls have been better defensively in the second half of the season, but still rank 20th in opponent points in the paint since coming out of the break, which is, of course, where Jak does his best work.
Poeltl’s points prop is sitting at 14.5 for this matchup. He’s topped that number in seven of his last eight games. I’ll be on that, but I’m taking his alternate 20+ point total at an enticing +340 price for my best bet. He’s hit that mark in three of his last six games, including the last two.
Raptors vs Bulls same-game parlay
Jakob Poeltl 20+ points
Jamison Battle Over 9.5 points
Scottie Barnes Over 6.5 rebounds
The other way to attack Raptors games these days is with player props for some lesser-known guys who have been getting more minutes down the stretch as the team does its best to wind down the clock on the season.
One of those guys is rookie Jamison Battle, who's played nearly 27 minutes per game since returning to action in early March. He's averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting 36.8% from 3-point range over that 13-game period. He’s hit double-digit points seven times during that stretch. Let’s add Over 9.5 points for him in tonight’s matchup.
Let’s close this SGP with Scottie Barnes to go Over 6.5 rebounds. He's one of the regular Raptors starters still getting decent playing time as the team tries to keep him eligible for All-NBA.
Barnes is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game this season. He’s gone Over this number in eight of his last 15 games and is going against a Bulls team that's mediocre at best on the boards, ranking 15th in rebounding rate and 23rd in opponent rebounds per game since the All-Star break.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Raptors vs Bulls odds
Raptors vs Bulls live odds
Raptors vs Bulls opening odds
- Spread: Toronto +5 | Chicago -5
- Moneyline: Toronto +190 | Chicago -230
- Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5
Odds courtesy of PointsBet Canada.
Raptors vs Bulls spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Raptors opened this Eastern Conference matchup as 5-point road underdogs, and that's where they remain as of Tuesday afternoon.
- Toronto has covered the spread in 12 of its last 15 games. However, the Bulls have had the Raps' number, going 2-0-1 ATS in their last three head-to-head matchups.
- The total has seen a little more action, hitting the board at 237.5 and being bet down to 235.5.
- I'm staying away from the total. Toronto actually leads the NBA in defensive rating, but both teams are Top 10 in pace, so I see a wide range of outcomes regarding the final score.
Raptors vs Bulls trend
The Raptors have covered the spread in 50 of their last 81 games (+18.15 units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Bulls.
How to watch Raptors vs Bulls
| Location | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Tuesday, 4-1-2025 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TSN |
Raptors vs Bulls latest injuries
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