Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA action will conclude on Friday night with a heavyweight non-conference bout between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Coverage begins from Footprint Center at 10:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

Score Prediction

Suns 118, Bulls 108

Best Bets

Suns -5.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Bulls vs. Suns Predictions

After finishing 11^th in the East with a record of 31-41 SU last year, Chicago bounced back with a surprisingly excellent start to this season, as the Bulls opened with a sturdy 26-10 SU and 22-14 ATS run – while scoring 111.5 OPPG and allowing just 106.9 DPPG across that window.

The Bulls have been decimated by various health issues since mid-January though, considering Chicago enters Friday riding a bumpy 15-18 SU and 15-17-1 ATS skid, which includes a 6-5 SU record without two-time All-Star Zach LaVine – and a record of 9-12 SU with him.

On the other hand, Phoenix also dominated to start the season, as the Suns kicked things off with an impressive 27-8 SU and 18-17 ATS run – with 18 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS.

Despite the absence of Chris Paul, Phoenix has carried that same momentum all the way through mid-March too, considering the Suns boast records of 29-6 SU and 20-15 ATS across their last 35 games – while tallying 117.2 OPPG and allowing just 107.6 DPPG during that span.

I’ll back Phoenix here, as the Suns are 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six games, while generating 120.8 OPPG and allowing 107.3 DPPG during that timeframe – likely presenting a difficult road task for a Bulls squad that’s averaging just 108.8 OPPG across their latest 2-7 SU skid.

Bulls vs. Suns Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Bulls vs. Suns Betting Resources

• Matchup: Central vs. Pacific
• Date: Friday, March 18, 2022
• Venue: Footprint Center
• Location: Phoenix, AZ
• TV-Time: NBA TV - 10:00 p.m. ET
• Injury Report

Chicago Bulls Betting Analysis

• SU: 41-28
• ATS: 37-31-1
• O/U: 34-34-1

After last year’s lackluster 31-41 SU showing, the Bulls went out and made some bold acquisitions this past offseason, ultimately reshaping their entire roster, as LaVine finds himself partnered up with a dynamic supporting cast that includes DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso and others.

Chicago has stalled out recently due to various health issues though, highlighted by the Bulls yielding lackluster records of 15-18 SU and 15-17-1 ATS across their last 33 games, with nearly a third of those SU losses coming in the absence of LaVine (5) – and all of them coming without Lonzo (18).

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

• SU: 56-14
• ATS: 38-32
• O/U: 36-33-1

After battling Utah for the top spot in the conference all the way through the final day of last year’s regular season (51-21 SU), Phoenix was surprisingly rusty out of the gate to start the year, as the Suns dropped three of their first four games – while tallying just 106.3 OPPG across that window.

Devin Booker and company clearly just needed some time to settle into a rhythm though, considering the Suns boast records of 55-11 SU and 37-29 ATS since their four-game opening skid, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring and third in offensive efficiency (114.5 OPPG, 1.115 OE) – and on the flipside, ranking sixth in points allowed and third in defensive efficiency (106.3 DPPG, 1.035 DE).

Bulls vs. Suns Head-to-Head

The Suns swept a two-game regular-season set against Chicago last year, with the first matchup staying under the total at a score of 106-97 (U 225), while the second soared over with a score of 121-116 (O 216). The most recent matchup between these teams took place roughly a month ago though, which resulted in another high-scoring victory for Phoenix (127-124, O 228).

Key Players to Watch

• CHI: DeMar DeRozan - SG (27.9 PPG, 5.4 REB, 5.2 AST)
• CHI: Zach LaVine - PG (24.8 PPG, 4.8 REB, 4.5 AST)
• PHX: Devin Booker - SG (25.8 PPG, 5.1 REB, 4.9 AST)
• PHX: Deandre Ayton - C (17 PPG, 9.9 REB, 1.1 AST)

Bulls vs. Suns Betting Conclusion

After dropping back-to-back road matchups against Sacramento and Utah, the Bulls hit the road again for Friday’s contest as moderate underdogs against the Suns at Footprint Center – marking the seventh time Chicago has been an underdog across their last ten games.

I’ll back Phoenix here, as the Bulls are 2-7 SU and 1-8 ATS in their last nine games, while tallying just 108.8 OPPG and surrendering 114.8 DPPG during that span – setting the stage for another unfavorable matchup against a Suns squad that’s averaging 119.6 OPPG across their latest 14-4 SU run.

Bulls vs. Suns Betting Trends

• The Bulls are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games.
• The Suns are 2-4 ATS in their last six matchups against Chicago.
• The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six Bulls' games.
• The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone OVER in four of the last five Suns' games.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson