The New Orleans Pelicans (8-26) and Chicago Bulls (15-17) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Ill. The game will be broadcast live on CHSN.
The Bulls are 1-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Bulls -1), with the over/under set at 247 total points. Chicago is a -115 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, December 31.
Pelicans vs Bulls Prediction, Picks
- Pelicans vs Bulls pick: Bulls -1 (-110)
My Bulls vs Pelicans best bet is on Chicago to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pelicans vs Bulls Odds
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -110 | 247 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -110 | 247 -110o / -110u | -115 |
Pelicans vs Bulls NBA Preview
The Chicago Bulls return home on New Year’s Eve looking to stop a brief slide after losing two of their last three games at the United Center.
Chicago did manage a win over the 76ers in that stretch, but losses to the Bucks (post game fight with Giannis Antetokounmpo included) and Timberwolves exposed how thin the margin can be for this roster, especially after injuries piled up in the most recent defeat.
Monday night’s 136-101 loss to Minnesota was particularly costly, as the Bulls lost both of their top offensive engines midgame.
Coby White, the team’s leading scorer at 20.5 points per game, exited in the first quarter with a right calf strain, an area that already cost him the first 11 games of the season. Josh Giddey followed soon after, leaving early in the second half with an apparent left hamstring injury after posting 11 points.
Giddey entered the night averaging 19.5 points, 9.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds, while ranking second in the NBA with seven triple-doubles.
Chicago is also expected to be without Zach Collins for several games due to a sprained right big toe, further testing the Bulls’ depth.
The New Orleans Pelicans arrive in Chicago going in the opposite direction. After rattling off five straight wins between December 11 and December 22, New Orleans has dropped four consecutive games heading into this matchup.
Their most recent loss came Monday night in a 130-125 defeat to the Knicks, a game that slipped away late despite strong individual performances.
Jalen Brunson closed the door for New York in the final minute, while Zion Williamson scored a season-high 32 points for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole added 26 points apiece, with Trey Murphy III chipping in 21, but defensive lapses and late-game execution continue to haunt this group.
New Orleans will also be without Jose Alvarado once again, as the guard remains suspended for his role in a fight over the weekend against Phoenix. His absence has impacted perimeter defense and energy off the bench, two areas where the Pelicans have struggled during this losing streak.
Pelicans vs Bulls Prediction, Betting Analysis
This spot lines up well with our “Good Off Reb” home system. Chicago fits the profile of a home favorite priced in a modest range, where the market is not overreacting to recent results or short-term injuries.
The Bulls have shown steady offensive rebounding trends in their own building and maintain scoring outputs that sit just above league average without being artificially inflated by outlier performances. That combination points to sustainability rather than variance.
Being at home matters here. Even shorthanded, Chicago benefits from familiar rotations, a controlled pace, and rebounding advantages that tend to translate into reliable against-the-spread results.
With the line sitting near a short favorite, the Bulls do not need a dominant performance, just the ability to control possessions and limit second-chance opportunities for a Pelicans team that has struggled defensively during the season.
Pick: Bulls -1 (-110)
