Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions January 19th 2025

Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls January 19th 2025

At 9:00 ET, the Bulls (-217) will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers (+179) in a non-conference matchup. Chicago (-5.5) is favored and comes in with a record of 18-24, 10th in the Eastern Conference. Portland (+5.5) has lost five straight and is 13-28, 13th in the West.

This game will be played at the Moda Center and can be seen on KATU.

Bulls vs. Trail Blazers Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers
• Where: Portland at Moda Center
• Date: Sunday, January 19th
• Betting Odds CHI -5.5, CHI -217 | POR +179 O/U 235.5

The Bulls Can Win If…

The Bulls fell to 18-24 on the season after a 125-123 home loss to the Hornets on Friday. Chicago, who were -4.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total score of 248 points went over the pre-game line of 235.5.

Chicago went on a 10-0 run to take a 101-96 lead, but they couldn’t hold on, as they were outscored 27-20 in the 4th quarter.

Nikola Vucevic delivered a standout performance for the Bulls, scoring 40 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while shooting 68% from the field in their loss to the Hornets. Vucevic was especially effective in the 4th quarter, scoring 17 points. Coby White also had a strong game, hitting 4 threes at an 80% rate and finishing with 18 points, 12 of which came in the 2nd quarter.

As a team, the Bulls shot 50.5% from the field and made 14 threes, shooting 35% from beyond the arc. Zach LaVine contributed 19 points, with 10 coming in the 3rd quarter, and added 8 assists, matching White’s total for the game.

The Bulls struggled defensively in the 1st and 2nd quarters, allowing 36 and 37 points, respectively, but tightened up in the 3rd and 4th, giving up 25 and 27 points. Overall, they allowed the Hornets to shoot 50% from the field.

From beyond the arc, Chicago gave up 13 threes on 38% shooting. The Hornets also went 16/20 from the free-throw line. The Bulls collected 33 defensive rebounds but allowed 13 offensive boards, while also recording 9 steals and 3 blocks.

• Across their ten previous road games, Chicago has an ATS mark of 4-5-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 119 points per game.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Bulls have a straight up record of 5-5. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-5-1.
• Over their last three games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Trail Blazers Can Win If…

The Trail Blazers fell to 13-28 on the season after a 125-103 home loss to the Rockets on Saturday. Portland entered the game as +10.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 228, exceeding the O/U line of 223.5.

Houston started strong with a 10-0 run, breaking the game open early. Portland briefly fought back, edging the Rockets 27-26 in the 2nd quarter, but Houston pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring the Blazers 36-24 in the 3rd and 38-29 in the 4th.

In their 125-103 loss to the Rockets, the Trail Blazers shot 45.3% from the field and made 12 threes at a 33.3% clip. Scoot Henderson led the way with 21 points and 11 assists, hitting 3 threes at 60% efficiency.

Toumani Camara added 17 points, while Shaedon Sharpe contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds. Henderson scored 8 points in the 4th quarter, and Camara added 5 in the final period.

Despite a solid start, the Trail Blazers’ defense struggled in the 2nd half, giving up 36 points in the 3rd quarter and 38 in the 4th, leading to a 125-103 loss to the Rockets. Portland allowed Houston to shoot 44% from the field.

The Blazers had a tough time defending the three, as the Rockets hit 14 threes at a 45% clip. Portland sent Houston to the line 22 times, where they made 15 free throws. The Blazers managed 6 steals and 10 blocks in the game.

• Through their last ten home games, Portland has an ATS record of just 5-5. However, their overall record was 2-8 while averaging 107 points per game.
• In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Trail Blazers have a straight up record of 0-3 and an ATS mark of 0-3.
• In their last three games, the Trail Blazers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re backing the Bulls for a victory, with the projected score at 136-110. Additionally, we favor them to cover the spread, so we recommend placing a bet on the Bulls at -5.5.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 235.5 and given that our model is projecting 246 points between the teams, we like the over.

Bulls and Trail Blazers Look to Stop the Bleeding

Two struggling teams collide Sunday night as the Chicago Bulls visit the Portland Trail Blazers. Both squads are desperate to reverse their fortunes, with the Bulls on a four-game losing streak and the Trail Blazers dropping their last five games.

Bulls: Close but Not Enough

The Chicago Bulls (0-4 in their last four games) have struggled to close out games, most recently falling 125-123 to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Despite Nikola Vucevic’s season-high 40-point performance, Chicago’s inability to capitalize on late-game opportunities continues to haunt them.

Vucevic had a chance to put the Bulls ahead in the final seconds against Charlotte but missed a 3-pointer, followed by missed opportunities from Zach LaVine and Ayo Dosunmu.

“It’s unfortunate. We just didn’t do enough to deserve to win,” Vucevic said, reflecting on the loss.

The Bulls are facing trade rumors surrounding Vucevic, who is shooting a career-best 56.1% this season while averaging 20.6 points and 10.4 rebounds. However, Chicago’s chemistry remains an issue, with losses to lower-tier teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets further highlighting their inconsistency.

Lonzo Ball, who has been nursing a quadriceps injury, is questionable for Sunday’s game, while Zach LaVine is listed as probable despite ongoing knee issues.

Trail Blazers: Rebounding Woes

The Portland Trail Blazers (0-5 in their last five games) are coming off a rough 125-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday, a game in which their rebounding struggles were glaring. Without Deandre Ayton, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan, the Trail Blazers were outrebounded 61-40, including a 23-7 deficit in second-chance points.

Head coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged the challenge of playing undersized: “You know it’s going to be a rough night on the glass. It was just too overwhelming.”

Portland welcomed back Jerami Grant (facial contusion) after a nine-game absence, but he struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just seven points in 25 minutes. The Trail Blazers hope Grant can shake off the rust and contribute more offensively.

Robert Williams III is unlikely to play on Sunday as he continues to sit out back-to-back games due to knee issues.

Key Matchups

1. Nikola Vucevic vs. Trail Blazers’ Frontcourt: With Portland’s depleted rebounding corps, Vucevic could dominate the boards and score efficiently in the paint.
2. Jerami Grant’s Comeback: Grant’s ability to regain his scoring touch will be crucial for Portland to keep pace with Chicago’s offense.
3. Zach LaVine vs. Damian Lillard’s Absence: Without a star like Lillard, Portland will rely on role players, while LaVine will look to exploit mismatches.

What’s at Stake

For Chicago, this game marks the start of a tough West Coast swing that includes stops in Los Angeles and Golden State. A win would provide much-needed momentum.

Portland, on the other hand, hopes to avoid a sixth straight loss and protect its home court, where they’ve struggled in recent games.

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Conclusion

Both teams are desperate to end their respective skids, with the Bulls holding a recent edge in the matchup, having won the last five meetings. Can Chicago’s offense, led by Vucevic and LaVine, overpower Portland’s depleted roster? Or will the Trail Blazers find a way to overcome their rebounding struggles and defend their home court?

Sunday’s matchup promises to be a pivotal moment for two teams seeking to turn their seasons around.