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Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview

It is an East-vs.-West matchup on Wednesday as the Chicago Bulls (3-4) take on the Portland Trail Blazers (3-3). Portland will host this one at the Moda Center, and tipoff is at 10:30 P.M. Eastern.

Chicago comes into this one on a bit of a roll. They have won three of their last four games, including a 118-108 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. While it should be noted both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis were both sidelined for the game, the Bulls still got a solid game from Zach LaVine (39 points, six rebounds, five assists) and Coby White (23 points, seven rebounds) in the win.

The Trail Blazers come in having lost two of their last three. On Sunday, they lost to the Golden State Warriors 137-122 behind a 62-point effort from Stephen Curry. Damian Lillard (32 points) and CJ McCollum (28 points, nine rebounds) led the way in the loss.

Playing at home, the Trail Blazers are the favorites in this one. They are -430 to win while the Bulls’ moneyline sits at +340. The spread features Chicago +9.5.

By The Numbers

Offensively, both of these teams have been top ten in scoring early in the season. Portland ranks seventh, averaging 115.5 points per game. The Bulls rank 10th averaging 114.3.

Defensively, both of these teams are pretty weak. Portland ranks 26th, allowing opponents an average of 119.3 points, while the Bulls rank 29th, allowing 121.3 points per game.

Chicago Looks To Keep Rolling

After starting the season 0-3, the Bulls have played much better basketball under head coach Billy Donovan and will look to keep it rolling on Tuesday. To do so, they will need to lean heavily on LaVine, their one true star.

This season, LaVine is averaging 24.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. White has impressed as well in his second year, averaging 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

COVID-19 will affect the Bulls in this one as Tomas Satoransky tested positive, and players like Lauri Markkanen, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Chandler Hutchinson are out too.In their absence, the Bulls will need players like Wendell Carter Jr. (11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds), Otto Porter Jr. (14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds), and rookie Patrick Williams (9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds) to step up.

Portland Out To Show They Are Better Than They Have Played

While the .500 record is not what they want, it is worth noting who has beaten the Blazers. Portland’s three losses have come against the 5-2 Utah Jazz, the 5-2 Los Angeles Clippers, and a Warriors team that got a herculean 62-point effort from Steph Curry.

Of their wins, they have beaten the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and those same Warriors that beat them the next day. Portland is a better team than their record indicates right now.

Leading the way for Portland are guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Thus far, Lillard has averaged 26.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, while McCollum has averaged 28 points, four rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Other notable contributors include Carmelo Anthony (12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds), Gary Trent Jr. (11.5 points), Enes Kanter (12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds), and Jusuf Nurkic (9 points, 7.3 rebounds).

Taking The Trail Blazers To Win And Cover

Portland has been a tough team to gauge thus far. Based on previous seasons, we know this unit is better than 3-3, and a tough schedule to start hasn’t helped, but it just hasn’t materialized yet early this season.

With the way they played, if the Bulls were at full strength, I might consider taking them and the points, but a shortened bench might make it tougher to keep up with the high-scoring Trail Blazers.

Especially playing at home, I am taking the Trail Blazers to win and cover the 9.5 point spread as well.

FREE PICK: Portland Trail Blazers (-9.5).

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