Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/1/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

Where to watch: BSDET, NBCSCH

DraftKings: Bulls -6; CHI -230, DET +195; O/U 222

FanDuel: Bulls -6; CHI -230, DET +194; O/U 222

BetMGM: Bulls -5.5; CHI -225, DET +180; O/U 221.5

Caesars: Bulls -6; CHI -227, DET +185; O/U 222

Bulls: 28-33

Pistons: 15-47

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This a huge trap game for the Chicago Bulls. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back going to Detroit to take on a Pistons team that’s lost five straight, they should absolutely be favored regardless of what happens in their game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, but this isn’t going to be an easy one.

 

Things are going very well for Chicago. Two wins against a scrappy Brooklyn team, followed by a win against an injured Washington team, has the Bulls looking for a three-game winning streak when they face the Raptors. But going into Detroit, if they can go into that game with a chance to make it four, it won’t matter the travel. They will be too ecstatic to play horribly.

 

"I still think we can be better offensively," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "We have to find ugly ways to win games because (Sunday) we didn't shoot it well. When we're not great offensively, we have to find other ways to win."

 

The Bulls are starting to turn defense into offense, as well. They had 25 points off 16 turnovers against the Wizards, en route to winning by 20. But again, that was without Kristaps Porzingis and Monte Morris. Losing two starters in that regard is going to make it easier for anyone. But the Bulls have been in need of some good fortune lately with their underperforming selves.

 

"Doing the right thing, making each game count, playing the right way and playing for each other," said Zach LaVine, who scored 27 points Sunday. "We're just doing everything the right way. We play defense like that every game, I think we'll be all right. Just effort and energy. Holding people accountable and going out there with the same mentality, and even if you make a mistake, move on to the next play and do it better."

 

The Pistons are coming off a 117-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, a game where Charlotte lost LaMelo Ball to a fractured right ankle. But that doesn’t matter. What does right now is applauding James Wiseman for having the best game of his injury-plagued, short career. The former No. 2 pick, who was traded from the Golden State Warriors before the deadline for Saadiq Bey, scored a career-high 23 points and had seven rebounds albeit in a loss. Hamidou Diallo also had 23 points, going 10 of 15 off the bench in 33 minutes.

 

Marvin Bagley III added 21 points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.

 

“We did not have a good shooting night,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “For us to be successful, we’ve got to have a balance between interior scoring and also 3-point shooting, and we did not have that from the outside for whatever reason.”

 

Detroit has covered in four of the last six and failed to cover as 7-point underdogs in the loss to the Hornets. Not the most ideal situation, but they’ve at least been able to keep some close despite being hefty underdogs.

 

Pending on the result in Toronto on Tuesday will impact where the line goes. Ultimately, I think the Bulls will find a way to will themselves to a win, but keep an eye on the line for the Pistons as the day goes by. They’ll be getting points. Just a matter of how much. Bulls 115, Pistons 107

Bulls are 1-7 ATS as a road favorite this season.

The under is 20-8 when the Bulls play 5 games or less in 14 days the last 3 seasons.

Bulls are 5-15 ATS off a road loss this season.

Pistons are 21-8 ATS in March the last 3 seasons.

Pistons are 3-11 ATS off 2 straight unders this season.

Pistons are 4-19 ATS when revenging a same-season loss this season.

PG: Patrick Beverley

SG: Alex Caruso

SF: Zach LaVine

PF: DeMar DeRozan

C: Nikola Vucevic

PG: Killian Hayes

SG: Jaden Ivey

SF: Bojan Bogdanovic

PF: Isaiah Stewart

C: Jalen Duren

Injury report

Bulls: None

Pistons: Cade Cunningham (lower leg, out)