The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM ET. The Cavaliers hold the top record in the East at 62-16, while the Bulls are in ninth place at 36-42. Cleveland has won all three meetings this season by an average of 15 points.
In their last game, Cleveland lost to Sacramento 120-113 and missed a chance to clinch the top seed. Chicago beat Charlotte 131-117 to win their third straight. Both teams still have something to play for. Cleveland is trying to stay ahead of Boston, and the Bulls are fighting to move up in the play-in standings.
CLE Preview – Looking to Lock Up the No. 1 Seed
Cleveland is 45-32-1 against the spread and 33-6 at home this season. They rank sixth in scoring (117.8 PPG) and allow 112.3 points per game. The Cavaliers are strong in first quarters and first halves, with good trends on moneyline and totals early in games.
Donovan Mitchell leads the team in scoring and has dominated the Bulls this season, averaging over 33 points per game against them. However, he’s listed as out with an ankle injury. That could put more pressure on Darius Garland, Max Strus, and Evan Mobley to step up on offense.
Mobley and Allen give Cleveland one of the league’s better frontcourts. Mobley had 16 points and 9 rebounds last game, while Allen added 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Ty Jerome just returned from a knee injury and gave them 20 points off the bench against Sacramento. The Cavs also shoot well from deep, ranking in the top half in three-point percentage.
CHI Preview – Offense Starting to Heat Up
Chicago is 41-36-1 against the spread and 20-19 on the road. The Bulls are playing better lately, going 12-4 in their last 16 games. They are averaging 117.8 points per game during that stretch, with strong contributions from Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Nikola Vucevic.
White has averaged 32 points over his last three games and is hitting over 64 percent from the field. His recent surge has included 11 three-pointers made and seven free throws in the last game. Giddey has added playmaking and rebounding, recording a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the last win.
Vucevic continues to provide stability inside, averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Charlotte. The Bulls are one of the better three-point shooting teams, ranking 11th in the NBA. They’ve also been solid at limiting turnovers and creating extra possessions through fast pace and shot volume.
Betting Prediction
The Cavaliers are favored, but with Mitchell out, the Bulls have a chance to cover. Cleveland has struggled at times when missing key starters. Chicago is hot and has covered in 17 of its last 23 games. They are also shooting better and scoring more efficiently lately.
Expect a close game. Cleveland should still win at home, but it may not be by a wide margin. The total has gone over in several recent games for both teams. A predicted score could be Cleveland 120, Chicago 116, with the Bulls covering and the total going over.
Pick: Chicago Bulls +7 over the Celveland Cavaliers.
