Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets Picks and Predictions March 13th 2025

Bulls Look to Extend Streak Against Slumping Nets Despite Giddey’s Absence

The Chicago Bulls are closing in on their longest winning streak in over a year, but their pursuit of a fourth straight victory will come without Josh Giddey, who will miss Thursday night’s home matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to an ankle injury. While the Bulls have been gaining momentum, the Nets continue to struggle, searching for answers after another frustrating loss.

Bulls Finding Their Groove as Playoff Push Intensifies

Chicago (5-3 in their last eight games) has been on a steady upswing since shaking off a six-game losing skid last month. Their recent surge includes a dominant 121-103 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday, a game that marked the return of Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams from injury.

Vucevic, back from a calf injury, contributed an efficient double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) in just 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Williams, returning from a knee injury, logged 13 minutes as the Bulls looked more complete in the frontcourt. Their presence helped Chicago shoot 50 percent from the field for the third time in five games while scoring an impressive 68 points in the paint.

“I really like the way we played, physically on both ends of the floor,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “They’re a team willing to run up and down the floor with us. They did not get off shooting it, we scored in the paint, and we were able to get downhill and attack the basket.”

However, just as the Bulls were beginning to see their roster stabilize, Giddey went down late in the win over Indiana. Before exiting, he had put up another stellar performance, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Over his last nine games, Giddey has been averaging 23.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.

Although he was seen walking without a boot on Wednesday, Donovan confirmed that Giddey will be out for a few weeks, leaving the Bulls to adjust without their versatile playmaker.

Coby White Steps Up in Giddey’s Absence

With Giddey sidelined, the Bulls will lean more on Coby White, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career. White scored 29 points in the win over Indiana and has averaged 28.2 points over his last six games. His recent stretch includes a jaw-dropping 44-point performance in Chicago’s blowout win over Orlando last week.

White has proven capable of carrying the scoring load, but the Bulls will need sustained contributions from their supporting cast, including DeMar DeRozan and Vucevic, to maintain their offensive efficiency.

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Brooklyn’s Late-Game Struggles Continue

While the Bulls have been building momentum, the Nets (1-8 in their last nine games) continue to falter, particularly in crunch time. Brooklyn’s most recent collapse came in a 109-104 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Nets led by 18 points with 9:23 left in the third quarter but were outscored 56-33 the rest of the way, marking yet another blown lead in a frustrating stretch.

This was the fourth time in recent weeks that Brooklyn has squandered a double-digit advantage. Other notable meltdowns include:

• Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma City: Blew an 18-point lead
• March 6 vs. Golden State: Lost a 22-point advantage
• March 9 vs. Charlotte: Gave up a 17-point lead

The Nets had hoped to build on Monday’s narrow 111-108 victory over the Lakers, but their second-half performance against Cleveland erased any positive momentum.

Cam Thomas’ Offensive Firepower Not Enough

Cam Thomas has remained Brooklyn’s most consistent scoring option since returning from a second hamstring injury. He dropped 27 points against Cleveland, but his struggles in the fourth quarter (2-for-8 shooting) contributed to the Nets’ late collapse.

“I think their physicality just went up in the second half,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Defensively, we had 21 fouls for their 25 free throws, and they fouled us 10 times for our 14.”

While Thomas continues to shoulder the offensive load, Brooklyn will be looking for more from D’Angelo Russell, who was rested against Cleveland but is expected to return Thursday night. Russell has been dealing with an ankle issue of his own, and his production will be key if the Nets hope to turn things around.

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Bulls Look to End Long Streak Without Four Straight Wins

For Chicago, the opportunity to notch a fourth consecutive win is more significant than just maintaining momentum—it would mark their first four-game winning streak in over 15 months. The last time the Bulls won four straight games was between Nov. 30 and Dec. 8, 2023, a stat that highlights the inconsistency they have struggled to overcome.

With Giddey unavailable, the Bulls will have to find another way to keep their streak alive, but against a Brooklyn team that has consistently collapsed in the second half, they have a prime opportunity to extend their run.

Will Chicago step up in Giddey’s absence, or can the Nets finally put together a complete game and snap their struggles? The answer awaits at the United Center.