Pelicans vs Bulls: Fast Pace, High Stakes, and a Big Night in Chicago
Here’s what’s going on right now with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Chicago Bulls as they get set to face off Wednesday night at the United Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and while the records may suggest an uneven matchup, there’s a lot more happening beneath the surface.
The Pelicans come into this game with an 8–26 record, and it hasn’t been an easy stretch. A tough 130–125 loss to the Knicks earlier this week marked their fourth straight defeat, even though the effort was far from poor. Zion Williamson put on a show, dropping 32 points in that game, and the team managed to stay competitive despite being heavy underdogs. In fact, New Orleans has quietly been reliable against the spread, covering in seven of its last ten games and performing better than expected overall this season in that department.
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Still, road success has been hard to come by. Only two of the Pelicans’ eight wins have been earned away from home, and defense has continued to be a major concern. Points have been allowed in bunches, with at least 123 surrendered in three of the last four games. That trend has raised eyebrows heading into a matchup against a Bulls team that prefers to play fast.
Chicago sits at 15–17 and is trying to steady itself after back-to-back losses. The most recent one was rough, a lopsided 136–101 defeat at the hands of Minnesota. Nikola Vucevic was the bright spot, leading the way with 23 points, but the overall performance fell flat. Even so, context matters. Before this short skid, the Bulls were riding a five-game winning streak that included impressive wins over Cleveland and Atlanta, showing they can string together strong performances.
Injuries will play a role for both sides. The Pelicans are missing key contributors, including Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, and Jose Alvarado, which has already strained an inconsistent rotation. Chicago isn’t fully healthy either, with Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Zach Collins sidelined, but the Bulls still appear deeper heading into this matchup.
From a betting perspective, Chicago is a slight favorite at home, and that reflects both their recent body of work and New Orleans’ struggles on the road. With both teams ranking near the bottom of the league defensively and playing at a quick tempo, scoring is expected to come early and often. A fast-paced game with plenty of open looks feels likely.
All signs point to a competitive, high-scoring night, but with home-court advantage and a more stable recent résumé, the Bulls are being leaned on to take care of business, potentially by a score in the range of 128–122.
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