The Chicago Bulls (6-1, 3-0 away) and the Philadelphia 76ers (5-2, 3-1 home) face each other twice this week, with the first game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The two teams will play each other again on Saturday in Chicago.
Wednesday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. EST inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia is a one-point favorite in the Eastern Conference tilt, and the over-under total is at 217.5.
What to Know – Chicago Bulls
Chicago has been one of the hottest teams in the NBA through the first month of the season, winning six of their first seven games and sporting a perfect record on the road. The Bulls overhauled their roster in the offseason, and it has paid off so far, with Chicago sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls get nearly 50% of their 109.7 points per game from DeMar DeRozan (25.6 ppg) and Zach LaVine (25.6 ppg). The duo is tied for eighth in the league in points per game. Both are shooting over 47% from the floor, with DeRozan firing 41.2% from beyond the arc.
Rookie Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench in Monday’s road win over the Celtics and scored a season-high 14 points. Dosunmu was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the arc.
Chicago is 6-1 against the spread this season, including a 3-0 mark on the road. The Bulls are 1-6 ATS over their last seven games against the 76ers.
What to Know – Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia has won three in a row heading into Wednesday night’s matchup. The 76ers are doing this without a handful of players, including Ben Simmons. Philadelphia sits atop the Atlantic Division and is one game back of the Bulls in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia is attacking opposing defenses with a balanced scoring attack that is led by Joel Embiid, scoring 21.0 ppg. The Sixers have seven players averaging in double figures. Offensively, Philadelphia is averaging 112.1 ppg and shooting 49.2% from the field as a team.
With Embiid getting the night off for rest and Tobias Harris out due to health and safety protocols, Seth Curry stepped up to lead the short-handed Sixers with 23 points in the triumph over the Trail Blazers.
The 76ers are 4-3 ATS this year and 2-2 ATS at home. The total has gone under in five of Philadelphia’s seven contests and six of the last seven at home.
The Pick is In
Philadelphia gets the Bulls at home, but the status of Harris is a cause for concern. Embiid being rested will help, but the 76ers will sorely miss Harris if he can’t go against this Bulls squad.
The new-look Bulls have talent and depth on the roster and haven’t lost on the road this season. Philadelphia owns a seven-game winning streak against the Bulls, but that streak ends Wednesday night. Chicago maintains their momentum and stays undefeated on the road in a tight victory over the 76ers.
Betting Pick: Chicago Bulls ML
