Chicago Bulls vs Phoenix-suns Picks and Predictions February 22nd 2025

Chicago Bulls vs Phoenix-Suns February 22nd 2025

At 5:00 ET, the Bulls will host the Suns in a non-conference matchup. The Suns (-178) are favored by 4.5 points over the Bulls (+151), and the over/under line is set at 238.5.

Phoenix comes into this game on a four-game losing streak and is currently 11th in the Western Conference. The Bulls have lost five in a row and are 10th in the East.

Suns vs. Bulls Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls
• Where: Chicago at United Center
• Date: Saturday, February 22nd
• Betting Odds PHO -4.5, PHO -178 | CHI +151 O/U 238.5

The Suns Can Win If…

The Suns dropped to 26-29 on the season after a 120-109 road loss to the Spurs on Thursday. Phoenix, favored by 2.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 229 points fell short of the 238.5-point O/U line.

Phoenix went on a 13-0 run, extending their lead from 45-34 to 58-34. However, they couldn’t maintain momentum, as San Antonio outscored them 34-25 in the 3rd quarter. The Suns tried to rally in the 4th, winning the quarter 30-26, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

In the Suns’ 120-109 loss to the Spurs, Royce O’Neale led the way with 27 points, hitting 6 threes at a 50% clip. Kevin Durant added 22 points, shooting 69.2% from the field and making 3 threes at 50% efficiency. Bradley Beal contributed 19 points, and Devin Booker chipped in 17, with 7 of those coming in the 3rd quarter.

As a team, the Suns made 16 threes, shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc, while finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 46.9%. O’Neale scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter and added 10 more in the 4th, while Durant put up 9 points in the 3rd.

The Suns gave up 120 points to the Spurs, allowing 31 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 3rd. They tightened up in the 4th, giving up 26 points. San Antonio shot 47% from the field.

From three, the Spurs hit 15 threes at a 36% clip. The Suns sent them to the line 22 times, where they made 17 free throws. Phoenix recorded 34 defensive rebounds, allowed 6 offensive boards, and added 6 steals and 4 blocks.

• When looking at their past three road matchups, Phoenix has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 109 per game. The team went 0-3 overall in these games.
• As the betting favorite, the Suns have an ATS mark of just 1-2 in their last three games. Phoenix posted a straight up mark of 1-2 in these matchups.
• Over their last three games, the Suns have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Bulls Can Win If…

The Bulls fell to 22-34 on the season after a narrow 113-111 loss to the Knicks on Thursday. Despite being +10.5 point underdogs, Chicago kept the game close, losing by just two points. The total score of 224 points was well under the O/U line of 245.

Chicago started strong, leading 21-19 after the 1st quarter, but a rough 2nd quarter saw them outscored 31-22. They bounced back with a 38-point 3rd quarter and entered the 4th down 83-81, but couldn’t complete the comeback, as both teams scored 21 points in the final period.

In Thursday’s loss to the Knicks, the Bulls shot just 39.8% from the field, but connected on 19 threes at a 39.6% clip. Josh Giddey led the way, hitting 4 threes at 66.7% and finishing with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Nikola Vučević added 21 points, while Lonzo Ball chipped in 14 despite shooting 30.8%. Giddey was key in the 3rd and 4th quarters, scoring 12 points in the 3rd and 11 more in the 4th.

The Bulls put together strong defensive efforts in the 1st and 4th quarters, but they struggled in the 2nd and 3rd, giving up 31 and 33 points, respectively, in a 113-111 loss to the Knicks. Overall, Chicago held New York to 43% shooting from the field.

Chicago did a good job defending the three, as the Knicks made just 14 threes on 30% shooting. The Bulls also limited New York’s trips to the free-throw line, where the Knicks went 7/10. Defensively, the Bulls recorded 6 steals and 6 blocks.

• Across their ten previous home games, Chicago has an ATS mark of 3-7. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-8 while averaging 110 points per game.
• Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Bulls have a straight up record of 3-7. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.
• In their last five games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Suns is our selection to secure the victory, with a projected score of 126-113. We also like them to cover the spread, so we suggest betting on the Suns at -4.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 238.5 and our model has the Suns and Bulls finishing with a combined 239 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Struggling Suns Searching for Answers vs. Bulls

Any thought that the All-Star break would provide the Phoenix Suns with a solution for their myriad of issues might have been overly optimistic.

The Suns appear to be dealing with many of the same concerns heading into Saturday’s road matchup against the Chicago Bulls, who have lost five straight.

Phoenix returned from the All-Star break on Thursday and faced a number of familiar challenges in a 120-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas.

The loss was the fourth straight and seventh in eight games for the Suns, who are in 11th place in the Western Conference after trailing by as many as 16 points against San Antonio.

Phoenix forward Royce O’Neale scored a career-high 27 points, but the Suns struggled again on the defensive end. San Antonio outrebounded the Suns 44-39 despite missing center Victor Wembanyama, who is out for the remainder of the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder.

“We’ve got to show more resistance,” Phoenix guard Bradley Beal said. “Take on the challenges better. Help better. Rebound better. We have to do everything better on the defensive end, and we didn’t do that tonight.”

Kevin Durant scored 22 points in Thursday’s loss, while Devin Booker added 17 on 4-of-14 shooting (2 of 7 from 3-point range). Even with the Suns just outside of a play-in tournament spot, Durant refuses to panic.

“There’s beauty in the struggle and all that stuff,” Durant said, “especially when you come out of the other side of things, and you realize that pressure and hard times make you better, so I think we can pull from these experiences to get better and use them for next games, but the worst thing we can do is feel sorry for ourselves.”

Bulls Look to Snap Losing Streak and End Suns’ Dominance

Phoenix has won its last nine meetings against Chicago, which is seeking its first home win over the Suns since Nov. 21, 2018.

The Bulls turned in a strong effort on Thursday but fell short in a 113-111 overtime loss to the host New York Knicks. Josh Giddey had 27 points and 16 rebounds to lead Chicago.

“I thought we did the right things,” Giddey said. “We defended the way we needed to, we made some shots. It just has to be a consistent effort, and for those last five minutes (in overtime) it wasn’t.”

Nikola Vucevic scored 21 points against New York and is averaging 18.7 points and 10.6 rebounds in his last 10 games versus the Suns.

The Bulls appear focused on the future after trading veterans DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Zach LaVine earlier this season, but coach Billy Donovan pushed back on the notion of tanking for a better draft pick.

“The responsibility I have is to winning and putting the guys out there who give us the best chance to do that,” Donovan said. “I feel that’s my job and responsibility as a coach.”

Injury Concerns Impact Bulls’ Rotation

Chicago forward Patrick Williams will be out for at least the next two weeks after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his right knee. Williams’ injury will likely create more playing time for second-year pro Julian Phillips, who scored 12 points on Thursday.

The Bulls will also be without Jalen Smith against the Suns. The reserve forward is in the concussion protocol after exiting Thursday’s game in the second quarter.

Get the latest NBA Basketball scores paired with expert insights on current betting odds

Suns and Bulls Both Desperate for Momentum

With both teams striving to find consistency, Saturday’s matchup could provide a much-needed boost for the winner. The Suns are fighting to stay in playoff contention, while the Bulls are determined to rebuild their identity without sacrificing competitiveness.

As Phoenix seeks to end its slump and Chicago aims to break its losing streak, the clash between these two teams could be a pivotal moment in their respective seasons.