Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions January 23rd 2025

Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls January 23rd 2025

At 10:00 ET, the 19-25 Bulls (+100) will travel to San Francisco to take on the 21-22 Warriors (-120). The over/under line for this non-conference matchup is 231.

Golden State (-1.5) is currently on a two-game losing streak and is 11th in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Chicago is 10th in the East and 5th in the Central Division.

Bulls vs. Warriors Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors
• Where: San Francisco at Chase Center
• Date: Thursday, January 23rd
• Betting Odds GS -1.5, CHI +100 | GS -120 O/U 231

The Bulls Can Win If…

Chicago improved to 19-25 on the season with a 112-99 road win over the Clippers on Monday. The Bulls entered the game as +6.5 underdogs and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 211, falling short of the 227.5 over/under line.

After a 10-0 run by the Clippers in the 2nd quarter, the Bulls responded by dominating the 3rd quarter, outscoring L.A. 36-16. Chicago took an 84-66 lead into the 4th quarter, and despite being outscored 33-28 in the final period, they held on for the win.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls to a win over the Clippers, scoring 35 points and hitting 5 threes at 41.7% efficiency. He scored 15 points in the 3rd quarter and added 11 more in the 4th. Josh Giddey and Talen Horton-Tucker each contributed 18 points, with Giddey shooting 77.8% from the field.

The Bulls made 15 threes, shooting 32.6% from deep and 40.4% overall. LaVine’s 5 threes were key, and Horton-Tucker added 8 points in the 4th quarter.

Despite giving up 32 points in the 2nd quarter, the Bulls’ defense held the Clippers to just 99 points on Monday, including a 16-point 3rd quarter. Chicago allowed 33 points in the 4th but still secured the win.

The Bulls limited the Clippers to 39% shooting overall and just 21% from three-point range, with Los Angeles hitting only 9 threes. Chicago also recorded 7 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

• In their last five games away from home, the Bulls have a straight up record of 2-3 while going 2-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 109 points per game in this stretch.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Bulls have a straight up record of 5-5. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-4-1.
• Over their last three games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Warriors Can Win If…

The Warriors fell to 21-22 on the season after a 123-117 road loss to the Kings on Wednesday. Golden State entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread, losing by six. The total score of 240 points went over the 231.5-point line by 8.5 points.

Golden State took control early, leading 65-48 at halftime, but Sacramento stormed back with a 37-20 third quarter. The game was tied at 85 heading into the 4th quarter, but the Kings went on a decisive 14-0 run to take the lead.

In their 123-117 loss to the Kings, the Warriors connected on 22 threes, shooting 45.8% from deep and 46.7% overall. Andrew Wiggins led the way with 25 points, hitting 5 threes at a 45.5% clip.

Buddy Hield also made 5 threes, finishing with 17 points, while Gui Santos added 16 points, 11 of which came in the 2nd quarter. Santos was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Warriors started strong defensively, giving up just 20 points in the 1st quarter, but they struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 37 points in the 3rd and 38 in the 4th, leading to a 123-117 loss to the Kings. Overall, Golden State allowed Sacramento to shoot 50% from the field.

On the bright side, the Warriors limited the Kings to 11 made threes on 36% shooting from beyond the arc. They also gave up 32 free throw attempts, with Sacramento converting 30. Golden State finished with 32 defensive rebounds, while allowing 5 offensive boards.

• In their last five home games, Golden State has averaged 107 points per game while allowing 110. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 3-2.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Warriors have a straight up record of 5-5. But, their mark vs the spread was just 3-7.
• In their last three games, the Warriors have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Coming in as the underdogs at +1.5, we have the Bulls as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 231 and our model has the Bulls and Warriors finishing with a combined 235 points. Our pick is to take the over.

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Warriors Face Bulls Amid Trade Speculation and Internal Struggles

The Golden State Warriors will have more than just a game on their minds when they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in San Francisco. With trade rumors swirling and a playoff push in jeopardy, the matchup against Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine could serve as a preview of what’s to come for Golden State.

Warriors Desperate for Frontcourt Help

Once among the NBA’s elite, the Warriors (21-22) have struggled mightily since their 12-3 start, now sitting outside of the Western Conference playoff picture. One of their most glaring issues? A lack of production in the paint.

Golden State’s Frontcourt Woes

• Kevon Looney played just nine scoreless minutes in Wednesday’s 123-117 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
• Trayce Jackson-Davis, a promising second-year center, had 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench in 24 minutes.
• Quinten Post, a rookie who has spent most of his time in the G League, was thrown into crunch time minutes against Sacramento with the game tied at 113. He committed two costly fouls, including an illegal screen turnover, as the Warriors were outscored 10-4 in the final minutes.

Steve Kerr’s Approach

With limited frontcourt production, the Warriors have resorted to high-volume three-point shooting, attempting 48 threes against the Kings and 53 in Monday’s 40-point loss to Boston.

“The way the NBA works these days with so many people launching threes,” Kerr explained. “If you make a bunch of them, you’re in great shape; if you don’t and the other team makes a bunch, you can be reeling quickly.”

This three-point-heavy approach has produced inconsistent results, and Golden State’s inability to dominate inside has left them vulnerable against bigger teams.

Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic: A Future Warrior?

While the Warriors’ need for size is evident, Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic has been a rumored trade target. The skilled big man has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and brings a traditional low-post presence that Golden State has lacked since Andrew Bogut.

Vucevic’s Recent Performances

• Scored 40 points in a loss to the Hornets last Friday.
• Averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the Bulls’ split of the first two games on their West Coast road trip.

The Warriors will get a firsthand look at how Vucevic fits against their roster, and if trade talks heat up, this game could be a preview of things to come.

Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball: The Other Storylines

LaVine’s Trade Speculation

• LaVine, another high-profile trade candidate, torched the Clippers for 35 points in Monday’s 112-99 win.
• He has been linked to multiple teams, including Golden State, though the Warriors’ main focus remains on adding size rather than another scoring guard.

Lonzo Ball’s Remarkable Comeback

Lonzo Ball, a former UCLA star, continues his impressive return from a two-and-a-half-year knee injury layoff.

• Ball made his second start of the season against the Clippers, contributing five points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 26 minutes.
• Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised Ball’s resilience, calling his return to the court “unfathomable”.

“It speaks volumes to his resiliency and toughness mentally,” Donovan said. “He was away from our team. He was in rehab. That can become lonely. And it wasn’t like it was going on for six months. That went on for two and a half years.”

Ball has fond memories of playing against the Warriors, including a career-best 33-point performance in May 2021 while with the Pelicans, when he hit seven three-pointers.

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Can the Warriors End Their Slide?

With both teams dealing with uncertainty, this matchup carries more weight than a typical midseason game.

• Will Golden State’s small-ball approach work, or will Vucevic expose their weakness inside?
• Can the Warriors contain LaVine’s scoring, or will he further boost his trade value?
• Will this be a preview of a future Warriors roster featuring Vucevic?

The Bulls are fighting to stay in the playoff mix, while the Warriors are searching for answers—and possibly a new piece to their puzzle.