The Utah Jazz (14-25) and Chicago Bulls (18-21) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game will be broadcast live on CHSN.
The Bulls are 3.5-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Bulls -3.5), with the over/under set at 241.5 total points. Chicago is a -170 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is +142 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jazz vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, January 14.
Jazz vs Bulls Prediction
- Jazz vs Bulls pick: Lauri Markkanen Over 26.5 Points (-108)
My Bulls vs Jazz best bet is on Lauri Markkanen to score over 26.5 points, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Jazz vs Bulls Odds
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -108 | 241.5 -112o / -108u | +142 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -112 | 241.5 -112o / -108u | -170 |
Jazz vs Bulls NBA Preview
Six of the last 10 meetings between the Jazz and Bulls have gone over and tonight's matchup has another high total over 240 points.
The latest matchup was one of the wildest in the series and in the NBA this season. The Jazz defeated the Bulls 150-147 in double overtime as Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George combined for 80 points.
Josh Giddey had a triple-double (26 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists) in the loss, but he will be out tonight.
The Bulls were without both Giddey and Coby White (injury management) last night in Houston, but White may be back on the second night of the back-to-back.
However, Tre Jones did his best to fill in for both of them with a career-high 34 points while adding four rebounds and seven assists.
Jones led five Bulls in double figures, but it was not enough as they fell 119-113 to the Rockets in a game that featured 35 lead changes.
It was their fourth loss in their last five games. They remain in 10th in the Eastern Conference, but did not move in either direction as Atlanta (ninth) and Milwaukee (11th) both lost as well.
The Bulls are favored to get back in the win column, but the Jazz are coming off an upset victory in Cleveland.
George had 32 points and nine assists while Markkanen added 28 points and 12 rebounds against his former team. His return tour continues as he returns to Chicago tonight, where the former lottery pick spent the first four seasons of his career.
While the Jazz are catching the Bulls on the back end of a back-to-back, they have another themselves as they will be in Dallas tomorrow.
Injury-wise, they are in pretty good shape for tonight's game. However, they will be without Kevin Love tonight as the veteran will be rested.
Jazz vs Bulls Prediction, Betting Analysis
While Markkanen is one of the nicest players you will find on the court, he has no issue sticking it to his former team(s).
In eight career games against the Bulls, Markkanen is averaging 26 points and 5.5 rebounds. He has played 30 minutes in six of those games and he scored 28 points or more in five of them.
The Bulls gave up 46 points to Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr., who are both floor-stretching forwards. It was a favorable matchup as the Bulls are last in points allowed to power forwards.
Markkanen is already taken advantage of this matchup himself as he scored 47 points with six 3-pointers. He can clear this line with 27 tonight, matching his season average.
George has scored 30 points in three of his last 10 games and two of his last against Chicago.
He also has consistently hit six assists this season, averaging 6.9 and hitting six in seven of his last 10 games. He has recorded 30 PA in six of his last nine games and had 39 PA in the first meeting.
For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis have provided a consistent source of offense amidst their injuries.
Vucevic has scored 15 points in eight of his last nine games while Buzelis has scored 15 points in seven straight games. They combined for 39 points in the first matchup this season.
Pick: Lauri Markkanen Over 26.5 Points (-108, DraftKings)
Jazz vs Bulls Parlay Picks
- Keyonte George 30+ Points + Assists
- Lauri Markkanen 25+ Points
- Matas Buzelis 15+ Points
- Nikola Vucevic 15+ Points
Parlay Odds: +385 via DraftKings
