The Toronto Raptors have turned their defense into a formidable force, making it difficult for the Chicago Bulls to score, especially without Zach LaVine. The Raptors are on a roll, while the Bulls are facing a tough challenge.
The Toronto Raptors have significantly elevated their defensive performance in recent games, and without Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls will find it challenging to score. Toronto has been playing exceptional defense over the past few weeks, and my Raptors vs. Bulls predictions heavily favor this trend continuing. The Raptors ' dominance on defense was evident in their previous game against Washington, limiting them to only 82 points on a dismal 39% shooting percentage.
I'm confident this vastly improved Toronto defense will perform well again tonight. The Raptors are currently playing their best basketball of the season, boasting a 7-1 straight-up and against-the-spread record in their last eight games. This remarkable turnaround can be attributed to their lockdown defense, as Toronto leads the NBA in defensive rating over that span.The Bulls are coming off a disheartening 122-100 loss to the Boston Celtics, where they shot a mere 40% from the field. Adding to their woes, Chicago was missing their leading scorer, Zach LaVine, who averages 24.0 points and 4.5 assists per game. LaVine's absence will continue tonight due to personal reasons. Besides LaVine, the Bulls lack players capable of creating their own shots, placing a heavy scoring burden on center. However, the Raptors have been excelling at defending inside lately, allowing only 43.4 points in the paint over their last 10 games. It seems as though oddsmakers haven't fully adjusted to the significant defensive strides made by Toronto. This makes betting on the under for Chicago's team total a compelling option, especially considering LaVine's absence.Toronto's defensive resurgence was ignited by Davion Mitchell entering the lineup for Quickley. I anticipate Mitchell will continue to receive significant playing time, which will likely limit Quickley's ability to rack up assists. is averaging 14.6 points per game on a sizzling 61.6 field goal percentage and should see ample playing time as Toronto is likely to match him up against Vucevic. Chicago plays at the third-fastest pace in the NBA and struggles to defend inside, allowing a league-worst 55.9 points in the paint. Early betting has favored the Bulls and the under, narrowing the spread from Toronto -4.5 to -3.5 and lowering the total to 232.5. The Bulls have struggled recently, posting a 2-8 straight-up and 3-7 against-the-spread record in their last 10 games. These teams previously met in December, with the Bulls winning 122-121 in Toronto. LaVine was also out for that game, but the Raptors were missing Scottie Barnes. The Raptors, however, have been performing exceptionally well against the spread in their last eight games, with the under cashing in six of those contests.
NBA Raptors Bulls Zach Lavine Defense Spread Over/Under Betting Predictions
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