by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Mar 03, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: NBCSCH, BSAZ
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Suns -5.5
FanDuel: Suns -5.5
BetMGM: Suns -5.5
Caesars: Suns -5.5
Season record
Suns: 34-29
Bulls: 29-34
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
Suns - Bulls preview, prediction and analysis
The Phoenix Suns are 1-0 in the Kevin Durant era, but it was all Devin Booker in the Suns’ start to a new era. Phoenix will try to go for another win on Friday when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Phoenix is coming off a 105-91 win over the LaMelo Ball-less Charlotte Hornets, which in a sense is good because they took care of business. Durant, in his first game as a member of the Suns, poured in 23 points in his first game since the Brooklyn Nets traded him prior to the trade deadline. He had been out since Jan. 8 with a sprained right MCL.
"I feel like I fit in pretty well," Durant said. "I've just got to keep grinding, man, and this jersey on me will look normal as games go on. I'm glad I got to get back out there on the floor today."
But while all eyes were on Durant, it was Booker stealing the show in his own right with 37 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Phoenix All-Star. Deandre Ayton added 16 points and 16 rebounds in the victory.
"This is one of those moments that doesn't really feel real," Booker said. "It's fun, I'll tell you that. You could feel the energy. You could feel the confidence throughout the team. That's what the great ones do. (Durant) might not be the loudest person in the locker room, but his work speaks for itself. It's definitely contagious from top to bottom."
The Suns are entering this one as 5.5-point favorites and are favored for the fourth straight game. Phoenix is 4-2 outright in its last six games but 7-3 overall in the last 10. We will need to see what this group, fully healthy, can do against a much better team. Imagine if Durant was around for the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have won three of four since the All-Star break and are coming off a 117-115 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Sure, they almost lost that game after leading big, but the Bulls are just in a position where any win is acceptable no matter the style.
Zach LaVine did go off for 41 points, who helped push Chicago to a 100-79 lead in the third before the Pistons stormed back.
"You see this team in the first 24 minutes of the game that's playing unbelievable, beautiful basketball," Donovan said. "Then you see a team looking lethargic, uninspired. It's amazing to me, to be quite honest.
"I have a lot of hope and optimism with this group because you see the best of these guys. ... We've got to eventually get that corrected where we just keep our foot on the gas."
Prediction
The Bulls haven’t shown they’re equipped to handle pressure from an elite offensive team. This will be a good test for the Suns. Suns 118, Bulls 108
Betting trends
Suns are 21-18 ATS as a favorite this season.
Suns are 15-16 ATS on the road this season.
Suns are 15-18 ATS off a win this season.
Bulls are 17-13 ATS at home this season.
Projected starting lineup
Suns:
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Josh Okogie
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Deandre Ayton
Bulls:
PG: Patrick Beverley
SG: Alex Caruso
SF: Zach LaVine
PF: DeMar DeRozan
C: Nikola Vucevic
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Phoenix Suns - Chicago Bulls prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
