NBA
Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction 01/04/2025
Kick Off Time: 08.00 pm, ET Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois SportsBoom previews the NBA inter-conference match between the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors at United Center on Tuesday, 1st April 2025. The regular season end date of 13th April 2025 is fast-approaching and the fate of these two franchises is already set. This season has been brutal to these two teams as they have failed to be among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference, which has been relatively weak when compared to the Western Conference. Despite this, NBA enthusiasts are exploring the best NBA betting sites to find best value odds for this game.
Tre Jones dribbles past Jamal Shead//Getty Images
The Chicago Bulls have undergone significant roster changes during the season and are expected to further shake up their roster in the upcoming offseason. They are ranked ninth on the standings, with a 30-40 season record so far. The odds of making the playoffs are stacked against them and a first round playoff appearance will be deemed a success considering the struggles they have had to endure throughout the season.
On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors are also having their own chaotic season that has seen them struggle for relevance. They are ranked 11th on the standings with a 24-46 record. A playoff spot via the play-in games is attainable but they will have to amass a winning record in their remaining fixture. They hope that the Miami Heat continues their recent decline, so as to make tenth position. Things have not gone as planned for the Raptors, as players they had projected to make a considerable leap in their development have so far failed to do so. They have, however, assembled a roster filled with untapped potential and the future seasons will certainly be very interesting.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Explore our odds on online betting sites for maximum value returns.
Chicago Bulls: 8/11 (1.73) – 57.8%
Toronto Raptors: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
A five-game stretch record reveals that the Bulls have been utterly dominant, having claimed four victories while the Raptors only have one.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/2025 | February 28th 2025 | Chicago Bulls 125-115 Toronto raptors {Overtime} |
| 2024/2025 | January 31st 2025 | Toronto Raptors 106-122 Chicago Bulls |
| 2024/2025 | December 16th 2024 | Toronto Raptors 121-122 Chicago Bulls |
| 2023/2024 | January 30th 2024 | Chicago Bulls 107- 118 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/2024 | January 18th 2024 | Toronto Raptors 110-116 Chicago Bulls |
Chicago Bulls: Current Form – LWLWL
- Overall Record: 30-40
- Home Record: 13-22
- Away Record: 17-18
The Chicago Bulls have had a poor season so far. However, a late season resurgence has positioned them for a playoff berth via the play-in games.
The Bulls have taken many by surprise with their performances, considering that they lost two of their best players, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, via trade and free agency respectively. Veteran center Nikola Vucevic is still on the roster and the team will rely on his experience as they look to usher in a new exciting era.
The team has handed Lonzo Ball an extension and many feel that the point guard is obligated to repay the franchise’s faith in him with solid performances after years of battling injuries that resulted in minimal game-time. Unfortunately, he has already suffered another injury and the decision is quickly proving to be a mistake.
Coach Billy Donovan has a talent roster full of promising young talents such as Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Coby White and Kevin Huerter.
The feeling within the Bulls organization is that the team will continue with the roster purge in the upcoming offseason as they trend towards a new youthful era.
RJ Barrett dribbles past Kevin Huerter//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- Josh Giddey: Josh Giddey’s tremendous growth is on showcase every night that he starts for the Bulls. Giddey leads the team in assists and steals with 6.7 and 1.1 respectively.
- Nikola Vucevic: Nikola Vucevic will be relied on to offer offensive points in the post and his perimeter shooting is a low-key weapon for the team. He leads the team in rebounds with 10.1 per game.
- Coby White: Coby White has been seeing a lot of the ball since the departure of Zach LaVine. White is capable of achieving streaky scoring surges and his production will come in handy for the Bulls since he is the team’s leading scorer with 19.8 points per game.
Chicago Bulls Team News
Lonzo Ball has started to shoot with his injured wrist but is still questionable about returning to action, while Ayo Dosunmu is out after undergoing a season-ending surgery due to an unstable left shoulder.
Toronto Raptors: Current Form – LLLWW
- Overall Record: 24-46
- Home Record: 16-20
- Away Record: 8-26
The Toronto Raptors have been flirting with the lottery position for much of the season. However, despite their dismal away record, they still have a chance to make the playoffs via the play-in games but only if they win their games and the Miami Heat results favor them.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic has a promising young roster that is sure to make noise in the upcoming seasons. They have a solid core that includes: RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley. With solid offseason additions, the franchise from Canada can fast track their championship contention window and development.
Injuries have wreaked havoc through their roster but despite this, the Raptors have put in competitive performances. They will need to bring a calm and composed veteran leader in the upcoming offseason to address their leadership struggles if they are to get back into NBA championship contention.
This fixture has brought little joy this season, as the Bulls have had their number in all three of their matchups and they will need a strong performance if they are to avoid the seasonal sweep.
Key Players to Watch
- Scottie Barnes: Scottie Barnes is the face of the franchise and is leading the team in assists and steals with 5.9 and 1.5 per game. He will be motivated to put the Bulls to the sword after murmurings of his stagnation this season irked him.
- Jakob Poeltl: Jakob Poeltl leads the team in rebounds and blocks with 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He is a crucial interior presence that anchors the teams defense.
- Immanuel Quickley: With RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick likely to miss due to various injuries and rest, Immanuel Quickley will be relied on to offer the offensive production in terms of scoring and playmaking. Quickley has shown that he is capable of shouldering such responsibilities in his career.
Toronto Raptors Team News
Brandon Ingram will miss this meeting due to an ankle injury, while RJ Barrett will most likely be rested after showcasing signs of burnout and fatigue but this is yet to be confirmed. Gradey Dick’s knee injury will be re-evaluated, while Ja'Kobe Walter will be out because of a hip injury.
Ulrich Chomche has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a partial proximal MCL tear in his right knee.
Predicted Lineups
Chicago Bulls Lineup
- Point Guard: Coby White
- Shooting Guard: Kevin Huerter
- Small Forward: Josh Giddey
- Power Forward: Matas Buzelis
- Center: Nikola Vucevic
Toronto Raptors Lineup
- Point Guard: Immanuel Quickley
- Shooting Guard: Ochai Agbaji
- Small Forward: RJ Barrett
- Power Forward: Scottie Barnes
- Center: Jakob Poeltl
Value Bets
Josh Giddey to Score Over 19.5 Points –Giddey has been registering consistent offensive performances for the Bulls this season, averaging 19.9 points. He has an effective scoring ability that is bolstered by his efficiency, size and playmaking dominance.
Jakob Poeltl to Make Over 1.5 Blocks – Poeltl is among the most overlooked rim protectors and he has been averaging 1.7 blocks per game this season. The Bulls are expected to unleash their tendency of attacking the basket. Nonetheless, Poeltl is expected to look for shot-blocking chances, making this prediction achievable.
Prediction: Chicago Bulls to Win
This game is expected to be closely contested but the Bulls will have an edge over the Raptors due to home-court advantage and their lead position in the season series. Moreover, the Raptors have maintained a dismal away record but they are a resilient team and will try to leverage any defensive loopholes created by the Bulls, whose offensive dominance will limit turnovers and drive attack.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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