Spurs vs Bulls Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: White Heats Up From Deep

I’ll say the quiet part loud. The Chicago Bulls have played better basketball since Zach LaVine went down with his foot injury.

LaVine has now missed 10 games, and the Bulls have won seven of those while going to an impressive 9-1 against the spread in the process. And one player in particular who has stepped up has been Coby White. 

The Bulls guard will look to continue his hot play when he and his teammates host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The NBA odds have the Bulls as 5-point favorites, but can White help his team cover yet another spread?

I break down this matchup and bring you the best bet in my free NBA picks for the Spurs vs. Bulls on December 21.

Spurs vs Bulls odds

Spurs vs Bulls predictions

The Chicago Bulls were floundering. They were 5-14 and rumors that every impact player on the roster was on the trading block were swirling. Then Zach Lavine got hurt and that felt like it was the final nail in the Bulls' coffin this season. 

But the funny thing is, that isn’t what ended up happening. Chicago has gone 7-3 SU and 9-1 ATS over the past 10 games without LaVine, ranking ninth in the NBA in net rating over that span. And Coby White has been a big part of that. 

White has stepped up when given added touches. Before the LaVine injury, White was putting up solid, if unspectacular numbers. He was averaging 13.7 points on 42.2% shooting while adding 4.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. 

Since then, his numbers have exploded. White is now averaging 24.6 points with 6.6 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game, and he's unconscious from beyond the arc over that stretch. White is hitting a crazy good 48.4% of his 9.1 three-point attempts over the last 10 games, working out to 4.4 makes per game. That includes going a stupid 5-for-7 against tonight’s opponent, the San Antonio Spurs just back on Dec. 8.

San Antonio is working through a bunch of growing pains with its young roster this season, sitting with an ugly 4-22 record which included an 18-game losing streak.

The Spurs have struggled on the defensive end of the floor. They rank 24th in defensive rating and 27th in scoring defense — surrendering 122.5 points per game — but they're most vulnerable on the perimeter. San Antonio allows the second-most threes per game, ranking 23rd in opponent 3-point attempts per game and 28th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.

That’s not a recipe for success when trying to slow down someone in a shooting rhythm like White. Take the Over on his 3.5 made threes, a number he's gone Over in seven of his last 10.

My best bet: Coby White Over 3.5 made threes (-123 at Caesars)

Spurs vs Bulls same-game parlay

Coby White Over 3.5 threes

Bulls team total Over 117.5

Victor Wembanyama Under 21.5 points

+375 at DraftKings

Coby White has helped the Bulls generate some real offense over the last 10 games. Chicago is averaging 118 points per game and has topped 120 points six times over that stretch. With the Spurs' defensive ineptitude, let’s add the Bulls to go Over their team total of 117.5.

But getting buckets won’t be easy for everyone. Things have been a bit of a struggle lately for phenom Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs rookie is averaging 18.4 points on 42.2% shooting over his last 15 games, yet his point total is sitting at 21.5. A number he’s gone Over just once in his last seven games.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Spurs vs Bulls spread and Over/Under analysis

The Bulls opened this matchup as 4.5-point home favorites and have seen steady action as the line has moved to Chicago -6 as of early Thursday afternoon.

The line move makes sense considering Chicago closed as 2-point road favorites when these two teams last met on Dec. 8. The Bulls got off to a slow start in that game but settled down and ended up winning 121-112 thanks to a third quarter where they outscored the Spurs by 15.

When it comes to the total, it hit the board at 230.5 and has been bet down to 228.5. That would be four points higher than the closing total from that Dec. 8 meeting, which was easily cleared.

The Spurs have cashed four straight Overs, but their inconsistent offense would give me pause here. As noted in the SGP, I’d prefer the Bulls team total as opposed to the full game.

Spurs vs Bulls betting trend to know

The Bulls are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Bulls.

Spurs vs Bulls game info

Spurs vs Bulls latest injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic