Spurs vs Bulls Picks and Predictions: Taking Advantage of Wounded Bulls

The San Antonio Spurs head to the United Center tonight to face off against the Chicago Bulls in NBA action.

The Spurs upset the Bulls less than three weeks ago but oddsmakers expect Chicago to get revenge at home tonight. NBA betting lines have the Bulls installed as 4-point favorites despite the absence of All-Star guard Zach LaVine.

Here are our best free Spurs vs. Bulls NBA betting picks and predictions for February 14, with tipoff at 8 p.m. ET.

Spurs vs Bulls odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The odds for this contest opened with the Bulls as 4.5-point home favorites with the Over/Under at 234. Early money has come in on San Antonio and the Over, shifting the line to Bulls -4 and the total to 234.5.

These teams played against each other just 17 days ago with the Spurs winning 131-122 as 7-point home underdogs. 

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.

Spurs vs Bulls predictions

• Prediction: Spurs +4 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 234.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Poeltl Over 8.5 rebs (+105)

Predictions made on 2/14/2022 at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Spurs vs Bulls game info

• Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Date: Monday, February 14, 2022
• Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: BSN, NBCS-CHI

Spurs vs Bulls betting preview

Key injuries

Spurs: Josh Richardson SG (Probable), Romeo Langford SG (Probable), Keita Bates-Diop F (Questionable).
Bulls: Derrick Jones Jr. SF (Probable), Javonte Green SG (Questionable), Zach LaVine PG (Out), Lonzo Ball PG (Out), Alex Caruso SG (Out), Patrick Williams F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 8-2 in Chicago's last 10 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Bulls.

Spurs vs Bulls picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Spurs are coming off a 124-114 win against the Pelicans to give them back-to-back road victories. San Antonio is well outside the playoff picture but has been competitive lately, going 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS in its last eight games, a span that began with a 131-122 home victory against the Bulls on January 28. 

Chicago is second in the Eastern Conference with a 36-21 record and has gone 33-23 ATS. That said, there are plenty of injury concerns for this squad.

Playing without their two best perimeter defenders in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso since January 21, the Bulls have allowed opponents to score 114.6 points per game on 47.4% shooting. Their offense has still been excellent... at least when they have Zach LaVine. 

The Bulls have played 18 games since January 14. In the nine games during that span with a healthy LaVine, they averaged 122.1 ppg, while in eight games without LaVine (and one when he logged just four minutes) they scored 105.8 ppg. The Bulls scored just 106 points without LaVine on Saturday and they'll be without their All-Star guard again today as he looks to see a medical specialist for his ongoing knee issues.

While DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic can fill up the hoop, they can't replace LaVine as a ball-handler, facilitator, and shot creator. The Spurs have a guy who can do all those things — while defending at a high level — in Dejounte Murray (20 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game). 

Additionally, Spurs center Jakob Poeltl has been a beast on the boards and is averaging 2.9 blocks per game over his last 11 contests, while shooting guard Josh Richardson should be ready to make his team debut. Richardson was acquired at the trade deadline for Derrick White and although White was a key player for San Antonio, Richardson has been the better outside shooter and can defend wings.

Look for the Spurs to keep things close against a short-handed Bulls squad and back them on the spread. 

Prediction: Spurs +4 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

The Over/Under is a tough one to figure out because the Bulls regressed so much defensively without Ball and Caruso but also score at a lower rate without LaVine. But with the Spurs playing at one of the fastest tempos in the league and dropping at least 124 points in three of their last four games, we're leaning towards the Over. 

After all, while Chicago's offense is less efficient without LaVine, they still have DeRozan (27.7 ppg) and Vucevic (18 ppg). Guard Coby White has also put up 16.1 ppg in his last 20 games and rookie Ayo Dosunmu has emerged as a solid option when inserted into the starting lineup, averaging 8.5 apg in his previous eight contests. Take the Over. 

Prediction: Over 234.5 (-110)

Best bet

When healthy, the Bulls have really looked impressive this season but one area where they haven't stood out has been in the rebounding department. Chicago ranks a modest 18th in the league in rebounding rate and they don't really have anyone who competes hard on the glass besides Vucevic.

Poeltl should see plenty of playing time for the Spurs as their best matchup against Vuc and he grabbed 11 rebounds in 32 minutes versus the Bulls two weeks ago. Poeltl has now pulled down at least nine rebounds in 14 of his last 20 games, averaging 9.9 rpg over that span.

We'll likely see a faster pace tonight, which should mean plenty of rebounding opportunities for both sides. With the Over/Under on Poeltl's rebounds total set at 8.5 and the Over paying out at plus money, we're putting our money on this player prop. 

Pick: Poeltl Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

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