The Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls meet in the 2023 NBA Paris Game on Thursday, with the matchup set for Accor Arena in Paris, France. The Pistons aim to right the ship after five losses in the last six games, and Detroit is 12-35 this season. The Bulls are 20-24 overall after a 14-point win over the Golden State Warriors in their last game. Lonzo Ball (knee) and Javonte Green (knee) are out for Chicago. Cade Cunningham (tibia) and Marvin Bagley III (hand) are out for Detroit, with Jalen Duren (ankle), Cory Joseph (knee), and Nerlens Noel (foot) listed as questionable.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bulls as 8-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 236.5 in the latest Bulls vs. Pistons odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Pistons vs. Bulls match-up, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 45-20 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bulls vs. Pistons and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pistons vs. Bulls:
- Bulls vs. Pistons spread: Bulls -8
- Bulls vs. Pistons over/under: 236.5 points
- Bulls vs. Pistons money line: Bulls -305, Pistons +240
- CHI: The Bulls are 22-20-2 against the spread this season
- DET: The Pistons are 20-24-3 against the spread this season
- Bulls vs. Pistons picks
Why the Bulls can cover
The Bulls project well on defense in this matchup. Chicago is in the top five of the NBA in defensive rebound rate (73.7%) and second-chance points allowed (12.2 per game) this season, and the Bulls are also in the top 10 in fast break points allowed, points allowed in the paint, and steals per game. Detroit is in the bottom tier of the NBA in field goal percentage (45.4%), and the Pistons also struggle to bottom-five numbers in several key categories on defense, including a 118.0 defensive rating.
Chicago is an efficient shooting team, converting 48.8% of all field goal attempts and 37.3% of 3-point attempts, and the Bulls are in the top five of the NBA in making 81.7% of free throw attempts. Chicago protects the ball well with only 13.7 turnovers per game, and the Bulls have two high-end perimeter scorers in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
Why the Pistons can cover
Detroit is highly physical and athletic, leading to key strengths that boost overall efficiency. The Pistons create more free throw attempts (27.0 per game) than any team in the NBA, and are very strong on the offensive glass. Detroit is above-average in offensive rebound rate (29.0%) and in the top eight in second-chance points, averaging 15.3 per game. Chicago struggles to defend the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 36.9%, and the Bulls are second-worst in the league in assist prevention (26.4 assists allowed per game).
On defense, the Pistons create 7.1 steals per game, an above-average mark, and Detroit is facing a Bulls team that doesn't use force at a high level. Chicago is No. 28 in the NBA in offensive rebound rate (23.2%) and No. 24 in the league in free throw creation, averaging only 22.5 attempts per game.
How to make Bulls vs. Pistons picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, with five players projected to score more than 17 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations.
