Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans January 14th 2025

At 8:00 ET, the Bulls (-121) will host the Pelicans (+102) in a non-conference matchup. The Bulls are favored by 1.5 and the over/under line is 239.5.

This game will take place at the United Center in Chicago and can be seen on CHSN. The Pelicans are 15th in the Western Conference with a record of 8-32, while the Bulls are 10th in the Eastern Conference at 18-21.

Pelicans vs. Bulls Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls
• Where: Chicago at United Center
• Date: Tuesday, January 14th
• Betting Odds CHI -1.5, NO +102 | CHI -121 O/U 239.5

The Pelicans Can Win If…

The Pelicans fell to 8-32 on the season after a narrow 120-119 loss to the Celtics on Sunday. New Orleans, who entered the game as +15 point underdogs, kept things close and covered the spread. The total score of 239 points exceeded the O/U line of 230.5 by 8.5 points.

New Orleans jumped out to a 35-29 lead after the 1st quarter, but Boston took control by winning the 2nd quarter 33-26. The Pelicans entered the 4th quarter down 90-88 and edged the Celtics 31-30 in the final period, but it wasn’t enough to pull off the upset.

The Pelicans connected on 17 threes at a 45.9% clip in their loss to the Celtics, with Trey Murphy III leading the way, hitting 5 threes and finishing with a team-high 30 points. Dejounte Murray added 26 points, knocking down 6 threes at 66.7% efficiency.

Murray was big in the 1st quarter, scoring 17 points, while Murphy put up 13 points in the 3rd. Zion Williamson struggled from the field, shooting 33.3%, but contributed 7 points in the 4th quarter.

Despite a solid defensive effort, the Pelicans gave up 120 points in their loss to the Celtics. New Orleans allowed 29 points in the 1st quarter, 33 in the 2nd, 28 in the 3rd, and 30 in the 4th. The Pelicans held Boston to 43% shooting from the field.

New Orleans limited the Celtics to 13 made threes on 29% shooting. Boston went 19/23 from the free-throw line. The Pelicans grabbed 36 defensive rebounds but allowed 18 offensive boards. They also recorded 8 steals and 3 blocks.

• Through their last ten road games, New Orleans has an ATS record of just 5-5. However, their overall record was 2-8 while averaging 109 points per game.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, New Orleans has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 1-2 straight up.
• Over their last three games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Bulls Can Win If…

The Bulls fell to 18-21 on the season after a 124-119 loss to the Kings on Sunday. Chicago was +5 point underdogs going into the game, and the final score resulted in a push. The total points for the game were 243, which went over the line of 238.

Chicago took a 63-61 lead into halftime after outscoring Sacramento 33-29 in the 2nd quarter. However, the Kings regained control by winning the 3rd quarter 36-32 and edged out the Bulls 27-24 in the 4th.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 threes in their 124-119 loss to the Kings, shooting 50% from the field and 62.5% from deep. Nikola Vucevic added 18 points, while Lonzo Ball contributed 15 points, hitting 5 threes at a 62.5% rate.

Chicago connected on 18 threes, shooting 48.6% from beyond the arc and 46.2% overall. LaVine scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter and added 11 more in the 4th.

The Bulls struggled defensively, giving up 124 points to the Kings, who shot 49% from the field. Chicago allowed 32 points in the 1st quarter and 36 in the 3rd, but they tightened up in the 4th, giving up just 27 points.

From beyond the arc, the Bulls held the Kings to 13 made threes on 33% shooting. Sacramento also went 17/21 from the free-throw line. Chicago finished with 37 defensive rebounds, allowing 11 offensive boards, and recorded 4 steals and 4 blocks.

• Across the Bulls last three home games, the team averaged 111 points per game while allowing 120. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
• Over the team’s last five games as the favorite, the Bulls struggled vs the spread going just 2-2-1. However, they still had a straight up mark of 3-2.
• In their last three games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 1-1-1 and are 2-0-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Not only do we have the Bulls winning this one by a score of 137-134, but we see them covering the spread. Our pick is to grab the Bulls at -1.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 239.5 and our model has the Pelicans and Bulls finishing with a combined 271 points. Our pick is to take the over.

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Bulls Look to Stay Hot Against the Pelicans

The Chicago Bulls are hosting the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, and there’s a lot to watch for in this showdown. Zach LaVine’s scoring streak and Lonzo Ball’s resurgence are giving the Bulls some serious momentum, while the Pelicans are starting to find their groove with key players back in the mix.

Chicago Bulls: LaVine and Ball Are Ballin’

The Bulls are leaning on two big names right now:

• Zach LaVine: The guy’s on fire! LaVine has scored 30+ points in six straight games, setting a career-best streak. He’s been unstoppable, and the Bulls are feeding off his energy.
• Lonzo Ball: After battling injuries, Ball is back in the mix. He’s hit double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season, including 15 points and five 3-pointers against Sacramento. He’s also shooting a ridiculous 60% from three over the past two games.

Injury Watch:
The Bulls are a bit thin in the backcourt, with Coby White (neck) and Ayo Dosunmu (calf) both questionable for Tuesday. Ball’s return has been huge, but his minutes are still limited as he recovers from knee and wrist issues.

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New Orleans Pelicans: Finding Their Flow

The Pelicans might be near the bottom of the standings, but they’re not giving up. With key players finally healthy, they’re starting to look like a team to watch.

Who’s Stepping Up:

• Trey Murphy: This guy has been electric lately, dropping 30 points against Boston on Sunday. That’s his third 30-point game in the last six outings.
• Zion Williamson: Back from a one-game suspension, Zion was everywhere on Sunday with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five steals. His energy is exactly what the Pelicans need.

Injury Update:
Brandon Ingram, who torched the Bulls for 33 points in the season opener, is still out with an ankle sprain.

What to Watch

1. Shooting Stars:
   • LaVine and Ball have been deadly from deep, but Murphy’s hot hand could keep things close.
2. Defense Matters:
   • The Pelicans need to figure out how to slow LaVine, while the Bulls have to watch Murphy and Zion, who can both put up points in a hurry.
3. Depth Test:
   • With injuries on both sides, the role players will be crucial.

Recent History

These two teams met in the season opener, and the Pelicans took it 123-111, thanks to Ingram’s big night. This time, with LaVine red-hot and Ball back in the lineup, the Bulls will be looking for payback.

Prediction

The Bulls are in a groove, and with LaVine leading the charge and Ball finding his rhythm, they’ve got the edge at home. The Pelicans will put up a fight, especially if Murphy stays hot, but Chicago’s momentum should carry them to another win.