Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland-cavaliers Picks and Predictions March 4th 2025

Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland-Cavaliers March 4th 2025

At 8:00 ET, the Bulls will host the Cavaliers in a Central Division matchup. The Cavaliers (-664) are favored by 12.5 points over the Bulls (+482). The over/under line is set at 246 points.

Chicago (24-37) is 10th in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the Central Division. Cleveland (50-10) is 1st in the East and 1st in the Central. The Cavs have won 10 straight games.

Cavaliers vs. Bulls Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls
• Where: Chicago at United Center
• Date: Tuesday, March 4th
• Betting Odds CLE -12.5, CLE -664 | CHI +482 O/U 246

The Cavaliers Can Win If…

The Cavaliers improved to 50-10 on the season with a 133-129 win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Despite being favored by 10.5 points, Cleveland didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 262.5 easily surpassed the O/U line of 236.5.

Portland went on a 15-0 run to take a 57-42 lead, but Cleveland rallied, outscoring the Blazers 37-35 in the 3rd and 40-30 in the 4th to complete the comeback.

The Cavaliers’ offense was fueled by 19 made threes at a 41.3% clip in their 133-129 win over the Trail Blazers, despite shooting just 43.3% from the field overall. De’Andre Hunter led the way with 32 points, hitting 5 threes at 55.6% efficiency, while Ty Jerome added 25 points and 6 assists.

Hunter was clutch in the 4th quarter and overtime, scoring 9 points in each period. Evan Mobley also stepped up late, contributing 10 of his 20 points in the 4th, and Jerome added 7 points in the final quarter.

Despite giving up 129 points, the Cavaliers managed to secure a win over the Trail Blazers. They allowed 27 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters but gave up 35 in the 3rd and 30 in the 4th. Cleveland held Portland to 43% shooting from the field.

The Cavaliers limited the Trail Blazers to 14 made threes on 35% shooting from deep. Cleveland sent Portland to the line 35 times, where they converted 31 free throws. Defensively, the Cavaliers recorded 12 steals and 5 blocks.

• Across the Cavaliers last ten road games, the team averaged 122 points per game while allowing 110. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 6-4, while going 8-2 straight-up.
• Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Cavaliers have an overall record of 3-0 while going 1-1-1 against the spread.
• Over their last five games, the Cavaliers have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 3-1-1 vs. the spread.

The Bulls Can Win If…

The Bulls fell to 24-37 on the season after a 127-112 road loss to the Pacers on Sunday. Chicago entered the game as +11.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were set at 240, and the teams combined for 239, just missing the over/under line.

Chicago trailed 32-31 after the 1st quarter but took a 67-66 lead into halftime. The Pacers edged ahead in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Bulls 29-25, and then pulled away in the 4th, outscoring Chicago 32-20.

Coby White led the Bulls with 26 points in their loss to the Pacers, scoring 11 of those in the first quarter. He also hit 4 threes, shooting 44.4% from deep. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey each added 18 points, with Giddey also grabbing 9 rebounds.

As a team, the Bulls shot 50% from the field but struggled from three, making just 10 threes at a 30.3% rate. White’s 4 threes were a bright spot, as the team finished below average from beyond the arc.

The Bulls struggled defensively against the Pacers, giving up 127 points in the loss. They allowed 32 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters and 34 in the 2nd. The 3rd quarter was their best, but they still gave up 29 points.

Chicago allowed Indiana to shoot 55% from the field, including 43% from beyond the arc, where the Pacers hit 19 threes. The Bulls sent Indiana to the line 18 times, where they made 12 free throws. Defensively, Chicago recorded 6 steals and 4 blocks.

• Across their five previous home games, Chicago has an ATS mark of 2-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-4 while averaging 118 points per game.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bulls have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
• In their last five games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Cavaliers to secure the win, with an expected final score of 126-92. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -12.5.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 246, and our model projects the Cavaliers and Bulls to reach a combined total of 218 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Cavaliers Look to Continue Dominance Over Bulls Amid 10-Game Streak

The Cleveland Cavaliers have dominated the Chicago Bulls in recent matchups, and they will look to continue that trend Tuesday night when they visit United Center. Riding a 10-game winning streak, Cleveland is showing no signs of slowing down as they battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, the Bulls, who have lost eight of their last ten games, are trying to stay afloat in the East play-in race. With Brooklyn and Toronto lurking behind them, Chicago must find a way to hold its ground against a red-hot Cavaliers team that has already beaten them twice this season.

Cavaliers’ Resilience Keeps Streak Alive

Cleveland has been one of the NBA’s most consistent teams all season, already tallying 50 wins—the first team to reach that mark. The Cavaliers’ success has been fueled by elite defense, balanced scoring, and timely comebacks.

Their latest win, a 133-129 overtime victory over Portland, proved their ability to fight through adversity. Playing without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (24.3 PPG), who was resting, Cleveland got a season-high 32 points from De’Andre Hunter, continuing their next-man-up mentality.

The Cavaliers have also shown a knack for overcoming large deficits, winning their last two games despite trailing by 18 points or more—a feat they hadn’t accomplished since the 1997-98 season.

Looking for the best odds? Compare real-time betting lines 👉 NBA Odds Page

Hunter acknowledged that Sunday’s win over Portland was unusual, with 53 personal fouls and 70 free throws slowing the pace. However, the team’s ability to adapt and push through adversity remains a key reason for its success.

“There’s a lot of whistles out there, but I think we did a good job playing through it and not letting it affect our game plan,” Hunter said.

With Mitchell expected to return Tuesday, the Cavaliers will look to build an early lead and avoid another comeback scenario.

Bulls Clinging to Play-In Spot Amid Recent Struggles

The Bulls’ season has been filled with inconsistency, and their recent stretch has only made their postseason hopes more uncertain.

Despite losing eight of their last ten games, Chicago still holds the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference, but their margin for error is shrinking. Heading into Monday, the Bulls led Philadelphia by two games for the final play-in spot, while Brooklyn (2.5 games back) and Toronto (five back) remain in pursuit.

After a 16-point fourth-quarter comeback against Toronto on Friday, the Bulls couldn’t maintain that momentum in a 127-112 loss to Indiana on Sunday. Once again, fourth-quarter struggles and lack of physicality were key reasons for their downfall.

Playing without Nikola Vucevic (right calf tightness) for the fourth straight game, Chicago was outscored 32-20 in the fourth quarter, highlighting their lack of size and toughness inside.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan emphasized that the team must improve its physicality, especially when closing out games.

“We’ve got to get better,” Donovan said. “Some of our younger guys being exposed in those situations—close to the basket, loose balls, jump ball situations—those kinds of things we need to get better at. Generally, the way you change momentum in a game is not by making shots—although that helps—it’s generally by ramping up the physicality.”

Chicago could get a boost if Vucevic returns, as he has played well against Cleveland in recent matchups, averaging 23 points and 9.7 rebounds in his last three games against them.

Meanwhile, Coby White has stepped up offensively, averaging 25 points over the last two games, giving the Bulls another scoring threat outside of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

Recent Matchups Favor Cleveland

Cleveland has won nine of the last 10 meetings against Chicago, including two victories this season. Their first win came in Chicago (by six points), followed by an 18-point blowout in Cleveland.

Mitchell was the difference-maker in the Nov. 15 matchup, scoring 37 points to lead the Cavaliers. White kept the Bulls competitive, dropping 29 points, but Chicago fell short down the stretch—a theme that has repeated throughout the season.

Who Has the Edge?

The Cavaliers enter this game as clear favorites, with momentum, depth, and defensive dominance on their side. If Mitchell returns and plays at his usual level, Cleveland’s balanced attack will be tough for Chicago to handle.

The Bulls’ chances depend heavily on Vucevic’s availability. If he plays, Chicago could at least compete in the paint, but if he’s out again, Cleveland’s interior defense could smother them.

Can Cleveland extend its winning streak to 11, or will Chicago rise to the occasion and pull off a much-needed upset? The answer awaits Tuesday night in the Windy City.