Pelicans vs Bulls

Zion Williamson and the Pelicans have already taken both meetings from Chicago this season, winning 143-130 at home and 114-104 on the road against a Bulls defense that has struggled to contain high-powered wings and rim pressure. New Orleans comes in on a four-game losing streak but is still healthier at the top of the roster, while Chicago has dropped two straight and is missing primary initiator Josh Giddey, fellow guard Coby White and several rotation pieces, forcing more on Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter to create against a front line built around Zion and Trey Murphy III. With the Pelicans’ prior success in this matchup, Chicago’s banged-up backcourt, and the modest tax at -120 compared with a thin Bulls side leaning heavily on Nikola Vucevic and young forwards, I like New Orleans on the moneyline and grade this play a B for reasonable edge and fair payout. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 10:02

Chicago’s undermanned offense, now without Giddey and White, has recently been dragged into slower, lower-scoring contests where more usage funnels through Vucevic in the post and secondary creators like Dosunmu, which naturally tamps down pace and transition volume. The earlier meetings flew over with totals of 273 and 218, but those came with a healthier Bulls guard rotation and a more aggressive offensive rhythm, whereas this version of Chicago is riding a two-game skid and has failed to approach tonight’s lofty 245.5 number in most recent outings even against fast-paced opponents. With New Orleans on a four-game losing streak, missing defensive ace Herb Jones but still averaging mid-110s in points per game, the combination of depleted Bulls spacing, more half-court possessions, and an inflated total makes the Under 245.5 at -115 my favorite angle on the board, graded A- for strong likelihood and solid value relative to the number. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 10:02

New Orleans’ 8-26 record and four-game skid keep this spread tight at -1.5, but their two previous double-digit wins over the Bulls this season show how Zion, Derik Queen and Kevon Looney can punish Chicago’s interior while the Bulls lean heavily on Vucevic and a young, thin forward group. With Giddey and White sidelined, Chicago’s late-game shot creation is likely to rely on Dosunmu and Huerter against a Pelicans offense that still averages over 115 points per night and has multiple on-ball threats in Williamson, Murphy and Jordan Poole even without Herb Jones available on the other end. Because the Bulls are at home, still hovering just under .500, and have shown they can defend in stretches despite being shorthanded, I’m laying the -1.5 with the Pelicans at -110 but only grading it a B-, recognizing higher volatility here than on the total and slightly less cushion than the straight moneyline. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 10:02