The Chicago Bulls (27-54) and Detroit Pistons (38-43) will battle at United Center to kick off Eastern Conference play. Detroit opened as a 1.5-point favorite, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 211.5 points. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, and it can be seen on Fox Sports – Detroit.
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls ATS Preview
The Pistons fell to the Toronto Raptors in their last contest, 108-98. Detroit’s Reggie Jackson contributed 16 points and nine assists in the contest. Toronto held the Pistons to an offensive rebounding percentage of 9.1 (below their season average of 22.9). Detroit, meanwhile, did a terrific job of getting to and converting from the free throw line (19-25; 76.0 percent).
In the Bulls’ last game, they were defeated by the Brooklyn Nets, 114-105. With 11 points and 10 rebounds, Chicago’s David Nwaba played well. Brooklyn did a fantastic job of converting from the free throw line (14-15; 93.3 percent). Chicago, meanwhile, held the Nets to an offensive rebounding percentage of 15.0 (below their season average of 21.1).
Chicago may have trouble getting to the charity stripe in this battle. The Bulls currently rank 29th in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.164, while Detroit ranks fifth in FTA rate allowed (0.172). Ball protection should be an advantage for the Pistons. They rank 5th at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 13.0 percent), while the Bulls force the fifth-fewest turnovers in the league (opponents’ turnover percentage of 13.0 percent).
Of Detroit’s 81 games, 44 have finished under the O/U total, while 44 of Chicago’s 81 games have finished over the O/U total. The Pistons have the superior straight up (SU) record (38-43 vs. 27-54), but the Bulls have the superior against the spread (ATS) record (40-37-4 vs. 38-40-3).
Both teams have had a player trending in the right direction over their last five games. For the Pistons, it’s been Anthony Tolliver, who has averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, while the Bulls have gotten solid contributions from Sean Kilpatrick (18.4 points).
These two teams have already met three times this year, with the Pistons winning two. Andre Drummond put up 15 points and 20 rebounds in the most recent contest, in which the Pistons beat the Bulls 117-95, covering as 13-point favorites. The two teams combined to score 212 points, which was just 4.5 points above the projected point total of 207.5 points. The Pistons dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a free throw rate of 0.172 and a solid effective field goal percentage of 0.586. For those same stats, the Bulls were 0.062 and 0.459, respectively.
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls Odds Prediction
Free NBA Tip: SU Winner – Pistons, ATS Winner – Pistons, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Pistons rank 14th in points off turnovers per game (16.4) while the Bulls rank 26th (15.0).
- Chicago ranks fifth in steals allowed per game (7.1) while Detroit ranks ninth (7.3).
- Detroit ranks second in fast break points allowed per game (9.8) while Chicago ranks 10th (11.1).
- Chicago is 21-17-2 ATS at home, while Detroit is 20-19-1 ATS on the road.
- In 40 road games, the Pistons have 24 unders, 15 overs and 1 push.
- Of the Bulls’ 40 home games, they have 20 overs and 20 unders.
- Detroit is 21-6 when they hold opponents under 100 points, while Chicago is 8-6.
- The Pistons are 34-19 when they reach the century mark, while the Bulls are 24-26.
- The Pistons rank 21st in points in the paint per game (43.6) while the Bulls rank 26th (41.8).
- Chicago ranks sixth in three pointers attempted per game (31.0) while Detroit ranks 27th in three pointers allowed per game (30.8).
- The Bulls rank 10th in assists per game (23.5) while the Pistons rank 26th in assists allowed per game (25.2).
- Neither of these teams are great at blocking the ball. The Pistons are 26th in the league with 3.9 blocks per game while the Bulls are 29th with 3.6 blocks per game.
- Chicago ranks sixth in rebounds per game (44.7) while Detroit ranks 20th in rebounds allowed per game (43.8).
Bettings Trends:
- Chicago is 2-2-1 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Detroit is 1-3-1 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
- The Bulls’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 3.8, down from 6.7 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Pistons have scored an average of 108.8 points per game (5.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 111.0 points per game (6.9 above their season average).
