Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls: 3 Best Bets

After getting blown out by the Brooklyn Nets last night, the Orlando Magic travels to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are on the cusp of a rebuild, announcing that Zach LaVine is on the trade block. DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic might be next.

However, all three All-Stars are still on the Bulls’ roster, meaning beating them is not a given. That being said, Orlando has proven this season that they are one of the stronger teams in the NBA, and Chicago’s losing record would suggest that they are not nearly as good as Bulls’ teams past.

Orlando’s injury report looks a little different than it did last night. Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr. are all out, but Gary Harris is available. Chicago continues to be without Lonzo Ball and Dalen Terry, and Alex Caruso is listed as questionable.

With a pretty good idea at this point in the season of what both teams offer, here are the lines from SI Sportsbook, and our best bets.

The Lines

Point spread: Bulls -1.5 (-110)/Magic +1.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Bulls (-125)/Magic (+100)

Over/under: 216.5

Our Picks

Fun pick: Goga Bitadze OVER 8.5 points (-110)

Why not, right? Since entering the starting role after Carter Jr. got hurt, Bitadze has played exceptionally well on the offensive end of the ball. After starting the season averaging 2.7 points in just over three minutes, he has blossomed into a nine-point scorer in 23 minutes of action. The Bulls allow the fourth most points in the paint, so Goga should be able to post a solid game against a horrid interior defense.

Team pick: OVER 216.5 total points (-110)

The Bulls are subpar on defense, allowing 113.7 points per game. Coupled with Orlando feeling sluggish after a day of travel, the final score should be above 220, easily passing the 216.5 mark. The Magic don’t have an answer for the offensive prowess of LaVine and DeRozan, and the Bulls can’t really stop Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Despite a lack of rest, putting up points shouldn’t be a problem for the Magic.

Opponent pick: Zach LaVine UNDER 26.5 points (-118)

LaVine is averaging 21.9 points per game this season, and a large chunk of that comes from his 51-point showing earlier in the season. LaVine should have a solid game against a shorthanded Magic team, but dropping 27 points is a huge ask. Outside of his 51-point game, he hasn’t cracked 25 points all season, and there’s no reason to think he will tonight.