The Indiana Pacers will Continue Their Downward Spiral vs the Chicago Bulls

Dan Favale
By , Updated on: Apr 9, 2024 08:00 PM
The Indiana Pacers will Continue Their Downward Spiral vs the Chicago Bulls

Slowly, surely, the Chicago Bulls are showing signs of life and creeping up the 2022-23 NBA standings. What once looked like a team on the verge of implosion is now a squad sniffing .500, with increasing odds to make the 2023 NBA playoffs.

Still, more than halfway through the season, the Bulls have little to no margin for error. They need every win they can get. That's why their current three-game winning streak is so massive. It carried them all the way to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a heartbeat away from the top six. But after a Monday night win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Bulls face the second end of a back-to-back, on the road, against the Indiana Pacers. 

Will Chicago be able to continue their winning ways? Linemakers think so. Here are the latest NBA online betting odds for Bulls vs. Hawks, courtesy of BetOnline:

FavoriteBetOnlineBetOnlineUnderdog
Chicago Bulls-118+100Indiana Pacers

As usual, you'll want to remember to double-check these online NBA betting odds right up until you make your picks. Our odds for Bulls vs. Hawks are accurate entering the morning of Tuesday, January 24. With tip-off scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. EST, linemakers will have plenty of time to make last-minute adjustments on these NBA betting lines based off the latest action and any breaking news (such as 11th-hour injury reports).

Fortunately, if you sign up with the right sportsbook, you needn't worry about having the latest NBA betting lines at your disposal. That's why we recommend taking a look at our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. We have all the information you could ever need to spot and join up with the best online NBA betting sites for the 2022-23 season.

So, can the Bulls extend their winning streak and continue their ascent up the Eastern Conference ladder? Or will the slumping Pacers deliver a bounce-back victory of their own? Let's get to our best NBA bets for Indiana vs. Chicago!

The Chicago Bulls Haven't Excelled on Back-to-Backs, but They Should Still Edge Out the Indiana Pacers

Part of us wants to avoid betting in favor of the Bulls. They are 3-4 on the second end of back-to-backs this season, only two of which have taken place on the road. Though they are 1-1 in those situations, that's not nearly a large enough sample size to draw any conclusions. Head coach Billy Donovan has also shown a willingness to rest DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine in these situations. There's no talk of Chicago doing that in Indiana on Tuesday night, but last-minute scratches are always a possibility.

At the same time, it feels far riskier to invest in the Pacers right now. Tyrese Haliburton hasn't played since January 13 while recovering from knee and elbow injuries and will remain sidelined for Tuesday's tilt against the Bulls. During this stretch without him, Indiana is currently 0-6 and getting outscored by 18.2 points per 100 possessions.

Aspects of this winless streak are noisy. The Pacers were missing defensive fulcrum Myles Turner for a chunk of it, and he's back in the lineup now. But he doesn't remedy the concerns about the offense, which is now run by a combination of rookie Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell and first-year player Bennedict Mathurin. 

For as much as the Bulls have struggled to win when favored, they are the obvious bet in this matchup.

OSB Prediction: Chicago Bulls (-118)

Chicago Bulls To beat the Indiana Pacers
-118
BetOnline

Why You're Better Off Betting on the Bulls to Cover the Point Spread Rather than Investing in Their Moneyline

Here are the latest NBA point spread betting odds for Bulls vs. Pacers on Tuesday night:

  • Chicago Bulls, -1 (-110)
  • Indiana Pacers, +1 (-110)

Looking at Chicago's track record this season, you might think they'd rank among the NBA's least profitable point-spread bets. On the contrary, though, the Bulls have covered the spread nearly 55 percent of the time—a minor miracle, perhaps, but nevertheless telltale.

Some level of regression must be baked into Tuesday's matchup. The Bulls just played on Monday and will be on the road in Indiana. Then again, Indiana isn't a far flight from Chicago. And more than that, the Pacers have been so bad lately, a one-point spread feels like a gift—for the Bulls.

Don't hesitate to parlay both Chicago's moneyline and spread if your sportsbook allows it.

OSB Prediction: Chicago Bulls, -1 (-110)

Chicago Bulls To cover the point spread against the Indiana Pacers
-110
BetOnline

Betting the "Under" in Chicago vs. Indiana is the Smart Play

Below you can see the latest NBA over/under betting odds for Pacers vs. Bulls on Tuesday night:

  • Over 237.5 (-110)
  • Under 237.5 (-110)

We are extremely surprised to see the Bulls vs. Pacers over/under betting odds exceed 237 points. Not only has Indiana's offense been atrocious without Haliburton running the show, but Chicago is averaging fewer than 110 points per game on the second night of back-to-backs.

To be fair, the Pacers play at a super fast pace, so even when they're inefficient, they still put up numbers. Their raw scoring checks in at 111 points per game without Haliburton. But the Bulls do not play at a particularly fast pace. Nor do they shoot a ton of threes. They rely heavily on late-clock mid-range jumpers. 

Between Chicago's play style and Indiana's talent deficit without Haliburton, we'll be fairly shocked if these two teams clear the "over."

Bulls and Pacers To score under 237.5 points combined
-110
BetOnline

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your NBA betting:

Meet the author

Dan Favale

Dan Favale leverages over 12 years of sports journalism expertise in his role as New York staff writer. He provides in-depth analysis across the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, tennis, NASCAR, college basketball, and sports betting. Dan co-hosts the popular Hardwood Knocks NBA podc...

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