- 1 Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls: a 46-win side adds Kawhi Leonard, a 31-win side adds a coach and a rookie
- 2 Toronto Raptors: Leonard cleared, Poeltl healthy, and three wins over Chicago last season
- 3 Chicago Bulls: a new coach, a No. 4 pick and a defence that gave up 121.5 a game
- 4 Free NBA Prediction: Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls: a 46-win side adds Kawhi Leonard, a 31-win side adds a coach and a rookie 
Toronto won 46 games last season and took Cleveland to a seventh game in the first round before losing. Then they went and got Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers agreed the trade on 30 June, the league only approved it on 14 September, and Wednesday is his first regular-season game for the Raptors since he left in 2019.
Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals in 65 games for the Clippers last season. Toronto sent Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick the other way, along with draft picks, so this is a different Raptors team, not just a stronger one.
Chicago finished 31-51 and went out in their first Play-In game. They’ve hired Tiago Splitter as head coach, drafted Caleb Wilson fourth overall and signed Norman Powell. Their road record last season was 13-28.
The Raptors are 1.27 to win and the Bulls 4.10. On the spread, Toronto give 8.5 points at 1.85, and the total is 236.5.
Tip-off at Scotiabank Arena is 7:30pm ET on Wednesday 21 October. Toronto beat Chicago by 16, nine and 30 points in their three meetings last season, and the gap between the rosters has grown since.
Toronto Raptors: Leonard cleared, Poeltl healthy, and three wins over Chicago last season 
Leonard sat out the first two preseason games because of a limited offseason workload, then made his debut against the Knicks on 13 October. The club has said it’ll manage his minutes conservatively all season, which is worth keeping in mind for a spread bet.
Jakob Poeltl is fully fit after his back problems. That matters against a Chicago side that played at the second-fastest tempo in the league and gave up 121.5 points a game.
The projected starting group is Leonard, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles. Malachi Smith offers a scoring option off the bench, and he had 24 points and seven rebounds in Friday’s preseason game at Detroit.
That game was a 129-125 defeat, with 19 Toronto turnovers and 39 of 46 free throws made. Toronto’s offence sat mid-pack last season and ranked in the bottom third for three-point attempts and accuracy, so Leonard’s shot-making fills an obvious gap.
The three meetings with Chicago last season finished 123-107 on 6 February, 110-101 on 20 February in Chicago and 139-109 on 19 March. All three margins were bigger than Wednesday’s 8.5-point spread.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Chicago Bulls: a new coach, a No. 4 pick and a defence that gave up 121.5 a game 
The Bulls scored 116.3 points per game last season and conceded 121.5. Only one team played faster, and the offence still ranked 23rd in efficiency. They’ve reached the playoffs once in nine seasons.
Splitter’s first preseason produced one eye-catching night. Chicago beat Minnesota 133-116 at home, shooting 52% with 34 assists on 50 made baskets.
Wilson scored 16 on 7-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds in that game, and Matas Buzelis added 14 points and six boards. Buzelis is projected to start alongside Powell and Josh Giddey.
Away from home is where the Bulls struggled most. They lost 28 of their 41 road games last season, and their three defeats to Toronto came by an average of more than 18 points.
No starting lineup has been confirmed. The projected group is Powell, Buzelis, Giddey, T. Jones and J. Smith, with Wilson pushing for minutes from the first night.
Probable lineup Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Collin Murray-Boyles
Probable lineup Chicago Bulls: Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, T. Jones, J. Smith
Free NBA Prediction: Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls
Our prediction: Toronto Raptors -8.5 (1.85)
I’d back Toronto to cover the 8.5 points. The moneyline at 1.27 is too short, and the Raptors beat Chicago by an average of more than 18 last season without Leonard.
Chicago’s defence gave up 121.5 a game, they lost 28 of 41 on the road and they’re breaking in a new coach and the No. 4 pick. Toronto add a player who averaged 27.9 points last season to a group that already won 46 games.
The one honest risk is Leonard’s minutes, which the Raptors have said they’ll manage. Even so, Toronto won all three meetings last season by more than this number, and the roster gap is wider now.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
About our free predictions
- What we publish on MathOdds are analyses, nothing more. We share a view, a reading of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport remains what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a last-minute goal, and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as a risk-free bet. Even when it looks “obvious”, nothing ever is. And yes, that means you can lose. It’s even inevitable at some point.
- The smartest approach is to stay reasonable. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Never use money you need to live on. And above all: don’t chase your losses: that rarely ends well.
- A bet should remain a game, not a job or a source of income. If it starts taking up too much space in your daily life, causes stress or frustration, take a break. And if needed, talk to a support organisation: that’s what they’re there for.
- Ultimately, responsibility lies with you. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, no matter how good the analysis.
- Essential reminder: gambling is prohibited for minors and must comply with the laws of your country. Need help? Visit begambleaware.org.
No commitment from us
Our predictions carry no contractual value. They have no legal standing. In short: you cannot rely on them to claim anything if a bet doesn’t come through.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time of writing. But between publication and kick-off, a lineup can change, a player picks up an injury, the weather turns, and the analysis can quickly be outdated. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before placing a bet, simply check that gambling is legal in your country. If it isn’t, that’s your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling
We can’t say it enough: gamble responsibly. If you’re struggling to stay in control, don’t wait to seek help.
Legal age
MathOdds content is intended for adults only. By browsing here, you confirm you meet the legal age requirement for gambling in your jurisdiction.
About visuals
The images and logos of Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls on MathOdds are used solely to illustrate our articles. They do not imply any official affiliation with a federation or sports organisation, and we claim no rights over them. Those rights belong to their original owners. If any visual raises a concern, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Leave a Reply