Bulls vs Rockets Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Dance With DeRozan in Houston

The NBA odds have the Houston Rockets as 4-point home favorites against the Chicago Bulls in a game between two teams hoping to lock up NBA Play-In Tournament spots in their respective conferences.

These teams are in similar situations, down star players, playing for a chance to reach the playoffs, and leaning on a former Toronto Raptor to help carry the offensive load. The difference is DeMar DeRozan has been playing some of the best basketball of his career for Chi-Town.

Find out where my best bets lie in our NBA picks and predictions for Bulls vs. Rockets on Thursday, March 21.

Bulls vs Rockets odds

Bulls vs Rockets predictions

When the Toronto Raptors shipped DeMar DeRozan off to the San Antonio Spurs ahead of the 2018-19 season, it was thought that the six-time All-Star was in the twilight of his career. Instead, he spent three seasons with the Spurs before having a career renaissance in the Windy City.

After reaching two All-Star games in his first two seasons with the Chicago Bulls, DeRozan has continued to be a key cog during year three in the Windy City. He’s held the offense together since the team lost Zach LaVine to a season-ending injury and has shown no signs of slowing down at age 34.

Thanks to DeRozan’s play, the Bulls are all but guaranteed a slot in the NBA Play-In Tournament as they hit the road to take on the Houston Rockets. To beat this Rockets squad that’s managed to win six straight despite being down Alperen Sengun, DeRozan will need to bring his best.

Luckily, there will be plenty of opportunity for him to stuff the stat sheet against Houston with no NBA player racking up more minutes per game than DeRozan's 37.7. He rarely leaves the court for Billy Donovan and that lends well to him hitting the Over on his 32.5 points, assists, and rebounds line.

DeRozan is coming off a 40-minute game against the Portland Trail Blazers in which he finished with 28 points, six assists, and five rebounds. He talked after the game about how he can handle this type of workload in his 15th season.

“I really try to take good care of myself the best I can,” DeRozan said. “I try to rest. And I just love hooping. I love playing the game no matter how many minutes it is. I just love being out there.”

The former first-round pick out of USC is first on the Bulls in usage rate (24.3%) and leads the team in field goal attempts (16.5), points (23.2), assists (5.3), and chips in 4.3 rebounds on top of it all. He’s the catalyst for Chicago’s offense and has been playing power forward for Donovan out of necessity.

That bodes well against this Rockets team. Houston allows 23.7 points, 10.69 rebounds, and 4.17 assists per game to power forwards this season, and has struggled with putting opponents on the charity stripe. The Rockets allow 25.5 free throw attempts per game, third-most in the NBA, and that’s something DeRozan can take advantage of — he leads Chicago in free-throw attempts per game (7.6).

Another avenue that should help DeRozan reach the Over in this matchup is Houston’s rebounding issues. The Rockets allow the sixth-most defensive rebounds per game in the NBA (34.1) and the eighth-most overall (44.7).

Without Sengun, who leads the team with 9.3 per game, DeRozan could find even more opportunities to bring in boards to bolster his scoring output. While rebounding is where he’s lacking, he’s still had at least five in seven of his last 11 games and has averaged 5.5 per game over that stretch.

It hasn’t just been his rebounding that’s been impressive over his last 11 games. Since Feb. 28, DeRozan has been doing his best LeBron James impression while averaging 26.1 points per game, 5.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.

Despite the Rockets surging as of late, DeRozan’s workload and level of play should help him finish with at least 33 combined points, assists, and rebounds for the eighth time over the last three weeks.

My best bet: DeMar DeRozan Over 32.5 points + assists + rebounds (-115 at bet365)

Bulls vs Rockets same-game parlay

DeMar DeRozan Over 32.5 pts+reb+ast

Fred VanVleet Over 2.5 made threes

Nikola Vucevic Over 11.5 rebounds

+450 at bet365

While DeRozan is in the second act of his career in Chicago, Fred VanVleet is hoping to find similar success since leaving Toronto for Houston. In his first season with the Rockets, he’s first in assists (8.2) and third in points (16.7) while being Houston’s most consistent 3-point shooter.

VanVleet leads the team in 3-pointers per game (3.0) and is shooting 38.2% from behind the arc. That will give the Bulls trouble, with Chicago allowing the second most 3-pointers per game this season (14.4).

That 3-point prowess will be needed with Sengun out and VanVleet having to do more on offense. But unfortunately for Houston, without their big man, it could be tough to slow down Nikola Vucevic around the glass. He leads Chicago in rebounds (10.6) and has had at least 12 in two of his last four games.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Bulls vs Rockets spread and Over/Under analysis

Houston opened as a 2.5-point favorite over the Bulls and the spread has since grown to between 3.5 and 4 at most books. The Rockets have been on a hot streak as of late as they fight for the final NBA Play-In Tournament slot in the Western Conference.

That spells trouble for the Bulls, especially with Houston being the fourth-best team ATS in the NBA this season at 37-29-2. Chicago is a respectable 35-33-1 ATS and covered as a 4-point favorite in its last game against the Rockets.

The game total opened as low as 213.5 but has quickly shot up to 219.5 at most books. The Bulls have been the best Over team in the NBA this season at 38-30-1 while Houston has been less successful hitting the Over at 31-35-2. The Over hit in the previous meeting between these teams with the game total at 216.5.

Bulls vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Chicago Bulls have hit the Team Total Over in 20 of their last 28 away games (+10.55 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Rockets.

Bulls vs Rockets game info

Bulls vs Rockets latest injuries

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