Bulls vs Raptors Prediction NBA Picks 1/18/24

Toronto Raptors (15-25) vs Chicago Bulls (19-23)

Game Info: Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm (Scotiabank Arena)

Betting Odds: Toronto Raptors +2.5 -- Over/Under: 228

The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors collide at the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. Here’s a Bulls vs Raptors Prediction.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have been in fine form as they've won four of their past six games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after falling short to the Cavaliers in a 109-91 road defeat on Monday. Coby White led the team with 18 points, Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine scored 17 points each while Alex Caruso chipped in with 10 points. As a team, the Bulls shot just 42 percent from the field and nine of 32 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to erase an early 21-point deficit, only to go ice-cold and score just 14 points in the fourth quarter to lose by double digits in the end. The Bulls will take on the Grizzlies after this game.

Chicago Bulls Player Facts

• Nikola Vucevic ranks 10th amongst qualified players for rebounds per game (10.4) this season.
• Alex Caruso ranks 9th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.3) this season.

Toronto Raptors

Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors have been in poor form as they've lost five of their last seven games overall, but they will be eager to build some momentum after snapping a four-game slide with a 121-97 win last night. Gary Trent Jr. led the team with 28 points on 10 of 13 shooting, RJ Barrett added 26 points on nine of 14 shooting while Scottie Barnes chipped in with 20 points and eight assists. As a team, the Raptors shot 51 percent from the field and a sizzling 20 of 38 from the 3-point line as they jumped all over the shorthanded Heat from the start and took a 78-43 lead into halftime, allowing them to cruise in the second half to finish with the much-needed home win. The Raptors will play against the Knicks after this one.

Toronto Raptors Player Facts

• Immanuel Quickley ranks 12th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for 3P% (41.2%) this season.
• RJ Barrett ranks 48th amongst qualified players for points per game (18.6) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Raptors rank 29th in the league for free throw percentage this season (74.0%).
• The Raptors rank 3rd in the league for assists per game this season (29.4).
• The Bulls rank 30th in the league for opponent three-point field goals attempts per game this season (39.2).
• The Bulls ranks 30th in the league for pace this season (96.1).

Bulls vs Raptors Prediction

The Bulls could be shorthanded again with Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams both listed as questionable, while the Raptors will be playing their first game without Pascal Siakam who was traded away to the Pacers. The Raptors opened as favorites in this one until the Siakam trade news came through, but the Bulls are slight favorites now which seems about right considering how well they were playing before their tough loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. This should be a close one, but I'd rather go with the Bulls to bounce back and get the win and cover at this short line.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.