Bucks vs. Bulls prediction: NBA odds, picks, best bets for Friday

It’s an uncharacteristically late tipoff at the United Center Friday night as the Chicago Bulls host the Milwaukee Bucks at 9 p.m. local time to accommodate the nationally televised ESPN broadcast.

The Bulls look to knock off their second straight Central Division rival after rallying past the Cavaliers in overtime, 132-123, on Wednesday as 5.5-point underdogs.

DeMar DeRozan overcame a rough shooting night to score 35 points with nearly half of them coming from the free throw line (17).

The Bucks head to the Windy City with no rest after cruising past the hapless Hornets, 111-99, as 11.5-point favorites on Thursday. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 24 points, helping the Bucks win their fourth straight game and pull into a virtual second-place tie with Cleveland in the Eastern Conference standings, eight games behind Boston.

Let’s take a closer look at Friday night’s Windy City showdown.

Bucks vs. Bulls odds

• Spread: Bucks 3.5 (-115). Bulls +3.5 (-105)
• Total: Over 221.5 (-110), Under 221.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bucks -175, Bulls +145

Odds via BetMGM

Bucks vs. Bulls prediction

Milwaukee is riding an incredible 12-1-1 run to the under in their last 14 games, while limiting foes to fewer than 100 points in five of their last eight contests, including three straight.

Chicago has covered the spread in all three matchups with Milwaukee this season as a sizable underdog. The Bucks are 2-1 against the Bulls with the lone Chicago win coming in overtime, 120-113, in late November.

Milwaukee won the most recent meeting, 133-129, in overtime in mid-December, but Chicago cashed as 11.5-point underdogs.

The Bucks have won seven of nine games this season with no rest, but we’ll see if Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard sit out on the second of the back-to-back. Already, they are down Khris Middleton, who has no timetable to return.

Bucks vs. Bulls pick

Here’s an interesting nugget on the Bulls: They have covered five of their last seven times when coming off an overtime game.

After they covered the first three meetings with Milwaukee as an underdog of nine points or more, it’s hard to make an argument for them at this short of a price.

Let’s lay the points with Milwaukee against Chicago in this Central Division battle.