The Indiana Pacers (17-58) and Chicago Bulls (29-46) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game will broadcast live on FDSIN.
The Bulls are 5-point favorites over the Pacers on the spread (Bulls -5), with the over/under set at 248.5 total points. Chicago is a -198 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Indiana is +166 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pacers vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, April 1.
Pacers vs Bulls Prediction, Pick
- Pacers vs Bulls picks: Pacers First Half Spread +2.5 (-115), Over 248.5 (-110)
My Bulls vs. Pacers best bets are on Indiana to cover the first half spread and the game to go over 248.5 total points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pacers vs Bulls Odds
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -112 | 248.5 -106o / -114u | +166 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -108 | 248.5 -106o / -114u | -198 |
Pacers vs Bulls NBA Preview
This is a matchup between two tanking teams with no incentive to win. Welcome to the NBA in March/April — it’s fantastic!
Pascal Siakam is going to play for the Pacers tonight, because he’s a total pro despite there being no reason for it.
Ivica Zubac, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and of course Tyrese Haliburton are out along with TJ McConnell and Johnny Furphy. Meanwhile, Chicago will be without Jalen Smith and Anfernee Simons.
The Bulls are 9-13 ATS this season without Stix (Jalen Smith), by the way (he’s one of my favorite players).
I make the spread for this game almost right on the number at Bulls -5 with the injuries.
The Bulls are tanking, but not tanking like the Pacers right now.
The Pacers are trying to avoid the 5-9 range in the draft so the Clippers don’t get their pick. Sacramento is two games up in the win column on the Pacers, and if they move to 4th, their odds of keeping the pick go from 52% (favored) to 48% (less likely than not) — so, they are incentivized.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are four games back of Memphis, though they do need to lose to keep Milwaukee at bay. The Bucks passing Chicago would drop the Bulls’ top-4 odds by 6.4 percentage points.
It is very messed up that I have to include this stuff in the handicap, but here we are.
Chicago has more offense on the floor than the Pacers, and the Bulls' defense is a little frisky, too — yet, Chicago has consistently found ways to lose to these teams:
- The Bulls are 4-10 SU and 3-11 ATS against teams with less than a 30% winning percentage at the time of the matchup. Chicago just lost to the Kings by 16.
That’s wild.
The Pacers have more incentive to tank, but they are in a better spot to allow a win — meanwhile, the Bulls will have their own pick no matter what — but Chicago probably needs this loss more.
Pacers vs Bulls Predictions, Betting Analysis
Pacers First Half Spread +2.5
I think it’s normally fine to bet on and against tanking teams late in the season because normal rules about competition and professionalism usually win out.
However, the same can't be said about this year. You can be in a good spot all the way and then have it yanked in the 4th quarter — but, there is still an angle worth attacking.
The Pacers are a respectable 8-9 ATS and 9-8 SU against teams that have a winning percentage below a 40% — and in the games against the very worst (sub-30% teams), get this, Chicago is 2-12 SU and ATS in the first half.
Good God…
Let’s take the Pacers to cover the first half spread and hope for a competitive half of basketball before the hijinx begin, so we can get out with our money safe from the nonsense.
Over 248.5
I do love the Over here, though.
The Over is 19-15 when the Pacers are road 'dogs this season — and 7-4 when the opponent is below .500.
The Over is also 9-5 when the Bulls face a team with a winning percentage below 30%.
Chicago can’t guard anyway, and the Pacers’ system still lends itself toward good shots and makes.
The Bulls rank second in pace; the Pacers are still top-10.
This should be a fast-paced, fun game between two teams trying to lose. Sounds great, right?
Pacers vs Bulls Best Bets
- Pacers First Half Spread +2.5 (-115)
- Over 248.5 (-110)
