The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Chicago Bulls Thursday evening at the United Center, with tipoff set for 8:05 p.m. ET. After their Tuesday meeting in Cleveland, these Central Division rivals square off again with the Bulls looking to defend home court.
Game Information
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Tipoff: 8:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. CT
Location: United Center, Chicago
League: NBA
Betting Lines and Odds
Moneyline:
- Cavaliers: -181 (favorites)
- Bulls: +145 (underdogs)
Spread:
- Cavaliers: -4 (-111)
- Bulls: +4 (-111)
Total: 231.5 points (Over -111 / Under -111)
Bulls Playing Better Basketball
Chicago enters this matchup with momentum, sporting a 7-3 record in their last 10 games with an active 1-game win streak. More importantly for bettors, the Bulls are 6-4 against the spread during that stretch and just covered in their last game.
Bulls games have been hitting the over lately, with 6 overs and 4 unders in the last 10, including the most recent game going over. This suggests Chicago’s been involved in higher-scoring, uptempo contests.
Cavaliers Struggling Badly
Cleveland is in freefall right now, sitting at 5-5 in their last 10 games with an active 3-game losing streak. Even worse, they’re 4-6 against the spread with a brutal 3-game ATS losing streak – meaning they’re not only losing games, they’re getting blown out worse than expected.
Their games continue trending over (7 overs, 3 unders in last 10), though backers aren’t getting much value with those 3 straight losses.
Why This Matchup Favors Chicago
The betting line tells an interesting story. The Cavs were -7 favorites at home Tuesday, but now they’re only -4 favorites on the road. That 3-point adjustment isn’t enough given the current form of these teams.
Bulls Advantages
- Home court: United Center provides a legitimate edge
- Better recent form: 7-3 vs 5-5 straight up
- Covering spreads: 6-4 ATS vs 4-6 ATS
- Momentum: Chicago won last game, Cleveland lost 3 straight
- Confidence: Bulls playing with belief, Cavs spiraling
What Cleveland Needs
The Cavaliers desperately need to stop their losing streak before it snowballs further. Playing on the road against a confident Bulls team makes that difficult. They’ll need to:
- Tighten up defensively and limit transition baskets
- Get back to their offensive identity
- Win the rebounding battle
- Make free throws in crunch time
Betting Value Analysis
The 4-point spread feels low given the current trajectories. Cleveland’s 3-game losing streak, combined with Chicago’s home court and recent success, makes +4 for the Bulls attractive value.
The moneyline at +145 for Chicago also carries appeal for those who believe the Bulls can win outright. At home against a struggling opponent, an upset isn’t far-fetched.
The total of 231.5 points aligns with both teams’ recent trends toward overs, suggesting a higher-scoring game is likely.
Bulls Fan Perspective
This feels like a statement game opportunity. We’re playing better basketball than Cleveland right now, and we’re at home where we typically perform well. The Cavs being favored despite their awful recent form creates value for us.
I’m not saying we’re world-beaters, but we’re certainly capable of protecting home court against a team that’s lost 3 straight and hasn’t covered a spread in that span. The energy at the United Center should give us the boost we need.
Game Prediction
Projected Score: Bulls 119, Cavaliers 116
I’m taking Chicago to win outright at home. The Cavaliers’ losing streak continues while the Bulls build momentum in front of their home crowd. This projects as a close, competitive game that comes down to the final possessions.
Cleveland’s struggles are real, and playing on the road against a confident opponent doesn’t provide the ideal environment to snap a skid. The Bulls should take advantage and secure a quality home victory.
Best Bets:
- Bulls +4 (feels like too many points)
- Bulls ML +145 (upset potential)
- Over 231.5 (both teams trending toward higher scoring)
For Bulls fans, this is a chance to see our team take care of business at home against a division rival. The atmosphere should be electric, and the performance should match the moment.
Let´s go Bulls!