- 1 Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls: a 130-point defense walks into a rested Sixers frontcourt
- 2 Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey at 28.4 a game and a 2-0 road record
- 3 Chicago Bulls: Powell and a rookie carrying the scoring, with Claxton still on the injury list
- 4 Free NBA Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers 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
Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls: a 130-point defense walks into a rested Sixers frontcourt 
Chicago has allowed 130.2 points per game through its first five games, and that average isn’t propped up by one bad night. Toronto scored 135 on the Bulls on 21 October, Boston put up 134 on 26 October, and New York needed 133 to win in Chicago on Wednesday. Three of five opponents have cleared 130.
That’s the backdrop to Monday 2 November at Xfinity Mobile Arena, tip-off 7:30pm ET. Philadelphia went into Friday’s games at 4-1 and near the top of the Eastern Conference, while Chicago sat 1-4 and 12th. The only Bulls win came on 23 October in Milwaukee, 132-125.
The reason the defensive number matters so much is that the offense can’t cover for it. The Bulls shoot 42.1% from the field and 27.6% from three, and their effective field-goal percentage of 48.6 ranks last in the league. They turn it over 18.0 times a game. A team that misses that often and gives the ball away that often is spending a lot of possessions defending in transition.
Philadelphia’s profile runs the other way. The Sixers score 110.8 and allow 107.4, commit 13.4 turnovers a game and have won with defense more than shot-making. Their one defeat, 106-93 at home to Detroit on 25 October, came in a game they scored 93 points; in their four wins they held opponents between 100 and 116.
Schedule matters here as well. Chicago is at Boston on Friday and then off until Monday, so it gets two days of rest. Philadelphia hosts the Knicks on Friday, plays at Charlotte on Saturday and has Sunday off. Neither team arrives on the second night of a back-to-back. Last season the Bulls won the series 2-1, both wins at the United Center, but the one game played in Philadelphia finished 157-137 to the Sixers on 25 March.
Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey at 28.4 a game and a 2-0 road record 
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.4 points, and the way he got there in Indianapolis on Wednesday says a lot about this team. He had 27 in the 114-109 win, 17 of them in the fourth quarter,, and the 76ers have now won both of their road games this season, at Madison Square Garden and in Indianapolis.
Nick Nurse has rebuilt the rotation around new arrivals. Jaylen Brown came from Boston in a trade made official on 6 July, with Paul George going the other way, and he’s averaging 20.6 points on 40.9% from three. LeBron James signed as a free agent over the summer and is at 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists in four games.
Joel Embiid has played four of the five games and is averaging 21.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. Against Indiana he had 21 and 11. His presence matters against Chicago in particular, because the Bulls’ starting center, Jalen Smith, is a game-time decision with a finger injury and Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring problem until at least 4 November.
The one injury question on the Philadelphia side is Brown’s knee, which made him a game-time decision for Friday’s game against New York. Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall are all listed out, and Ariel Hukporti is done for the season with an Achilles injury, but none of them is part of the regular rotation. VJ Edgecombe has started every game and adds 11.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Anfernee Simons is worth watching off the bench. He scored 20 on 7-of-11 shooting in Indianapolis after averaging 8.8 points before that game, and a second scorer behind Maxey is what Philadelphia lacked in the 93-point loss to Detroit.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Chicago Bulls: Powell and a rookie carrying the scoring, with Claxton still on the injury list 
Norman Powell has been Chicago’s best player since signing a two-year deal in July. He’s averaging 21.6 points on 36.6% from three, and he scored 30 on 10-of-15 shooting in Wednesday’s 133-127 defeat to New York. The Bulls led that game by 19 points before the Knicks came back.
Caleb Wilson, the fourth overall pick, is the second scorer at 20.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists against the Knicks. Matas Buzelis adds 14.6 points, and Jalen Smith, when available, contributes 13.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.
The problem is what happens behind those four. Josh Giddey is averaging 8.0 assists but only 7.6 points, and the team as a whole has made 27.6% of its threes. Against New York the Bulls went 18-of-43 from deep, their best night of the season, and still lost by six while allowing 133.
Tiago Splitter, in his first season as head coach, hasn’t had his full frontcourt yet. Claxton arrived from Brooklyn in a three-team trade in June and has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, with a return expected no earlier than 4 November. Patrick Williams has a groin problem and Tobe Awaka is questionable with an ankle injury. If Smith’s finger keeps him out as well, Chicago would face Embiid with very little size.
The home and road split doesn’t help Chicago much either. The Bulls are 1-2 away from the United Center, and the two road defeats came by 43 points in Toronto and 35 in Boston.
Probable lineup Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
Probable lineup Chicago Bulls: Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith
Free NBA Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls
Our prediction: Philadelphia 76ers to win by 8 points or more (handicap -7.5)
No line had been posted for Monday when this preview was written, so the handicap pick is the one I’d take at -7.5 or shorter. Chicago allows 130.2 points a game, ranks last in effective field-goal percentage and has lost its two road games outside Milwaukee by 43 and 35 points.
Philadelphia has the size advantage with Embiid against a Bulls frontcourt missing Claxton and possibly Smith, and it has turned the ball over 4.6 times fewer per game than Chicago. That gap in possessions is the most reliable edge in this matchup, more than any shooting variance.
The risk is Brown’s knee and a Saturday game in Charlotte before this one. Even so, the Sixers have won four of five with a defense allowing 107.4, and Chicago’s best offensive night of the season still came in a defeat.
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 Philadelphia 76ers 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