Dominick Barlow Out
Paul George Out
Jared McCain Probable
Coby White Out
Ayo Dosunmu Questionable
Zach Collins Out
Two of the hottest teams in the East face off tonight in Chicago. The Bulls have started strong, despite losing their first game to the Knicks the other night. Their offense has been clicking, with Josh Giddey leading the charge. He’s been a real threat all over the court, and with his scoring ability soaring, the rest of the team has settled in right behind him.
For the 6ers, they’ve experienced a similar rise to prominence in Edgecombe. The 3rd pick in the draft is far ahead of schedule, already becoming one of their most vital players. He’s been excelling on offense while also serving as a stopper on the other end of the court. Combine that with Maxey, and the 6ers look threatening this season.
The matchup should be interesting. Both teams have been excelling offensively lately. The 76ers are leading the league in points per game, while Chicago ranks sixth. The shooting splits on both sides are also impressive. The interesting part is when you look at defensive points allowed for these teams. The Bulls are 14th, while the 6ers are 20th in the league. Both teams give up around 117 points per game, which should turn this game into a full-blown rock fight.
Giddey is going to be the key for Chicago tonight. He’s been making things happen, but defensively, he’s still a target. The Bulls have done a decent job of keeping him hidden, but with a backcourt like Philly’s, it’s going to be tough. He will have a size advantage on defense, but with the speed of both Edgecombe and Maxey, the post defense will need to pick up the slack. With Vucevic in the post, it’s going to be a challenge to slow down this backcourt, especially with Embiid looming. While Embiid hasn’t been close to full strength, you can’t forget about him for a second.
For the 76ers, they need to improve their paint protection. Even though the Bulls have been shooting well from three-point range this year, that’s not their main strength. They will try to push the pace in transition and attack the basket. That’s where Embiid concerns me for the 76ers. If the Bulls can turn this game into a fast-paced sprint, Embiid might get left behind, exposing the Philadelphia defense. They’ve already been restricting Embiid’s minutes this season, but this could be a game where the Bulls have to play small.
We’ll see though. There is a reason why both of these teams start the season with a 5-1 record. They’re feisty and have plenty of punch. However, I trust something more about the 76ers tonight. The pairing of Maxey and Edgecombe will generate a lot of offense that the Bulls will struggle to stop. Especially with two of Bulls' leading scorers, White and Dosunmu, potentially out. I think the 76ers will push hard to overwhelm the Bulls in a tough, gritty game. That’s why I’m taking the 76ers moneyline, the over on the 239.5 points total, and the +1.5 spread on Philadelphia.
Money line: PHI (-105) / CHI (-115)
Total Points: 239.5
Spread: +1.5 PHI (-118) / -1.5 CHI (-102)
Edgecombe continues to excel early in his career. The rookie has been outstanding on both ends of the floor, already averaging 20 points a game. Facing the Bulls, he should have a good chance to keep his momentum going. Chicago's defense hasn’t been great, but offensively, this could turn into a tough, physical game. With a fairly weak perimeter defense, Edgecombe should be able to find space and create opportunities to attack the rim efficiently. Expect him to get another significant playing time tonight.
Buzelis has really improved in his second year. Averaging 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 assist with decent shooting splits isn’t enough to make him an All-Star, but he’s shown great growth. It’s all about the ceiling with Buzelis; this guy can shine when he needs to. With a 27-point game a week ago, he can be the lead scorer. Especially with White out tonight, Buzelis should get a few extra shots. Considering the frontcourt on the 76ers isn’t playing at full speed either, Buzelis will have plenty of chances to make an impact.
Giddey has moved up to a higher tier this season. Leading the offense, he’s been excelling on that end of the floor. While his defense hasn’t reached that level yet, he still adds value through rebounding. Averaging 9 boards a game already, he’s always chasing down the ball and looking to push in transition. Especially with White out, Giddey has been crucial in getting the ball moving.
This line feels a bit too low here. Maxey has been distributing the ball well so far, and the offense in general has been humming. With some excellent scorers around Maxey, including Embiid in the post, Maxey is averaging 9 assists per game. Considering how vulnerable the Bulls' defense has been, Maxey should be able to find open teammates consistently. Expect him to handle most of the playmaking duties tonight.