Clippers vs Bulls Picks and Predictions: Morris Shines as Chi-Town Gets Clipped

The Los Angeles Clippers got Paul George back last game and he helped the team earn an exciting comeback win over the Utah Jazz. Now, the Clippers will be looking to make it two in a row when they take on a Chicago Bulls team that has won two of its last three games. 

Will Los Angeles earn a big road win over a Chicago team that is playing at home for the first time in 10 days? Check out our Clippers vs. Bulls NBA picks and predictions for Thursday, March 31 to get the answers. 

Clippers vs Bulls odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Clippers were 3.5-point underdogs when this game became available, but the line is down as low as 2.5 as of late Thursday morning. As for the total, the number opened at 223 and is now down to 221 on most sportsbooks — with it being as low as 220.5 elsewhere. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

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Clippers vs Bulls predictions

• Prediction: Clippers +3.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 223 (-110)
• Best bet: Morris Over 12.5 points (-120)

Predictions made on 3/31/2022 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Clippers vs Bulls game info

• Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
• Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCS-Chicago+, Bally Sports SoCal

Clippers vs Bulls betting preview

Key injuries

Clippers: Brandon Boston Jr. G (Out), Norman Powell F (Out), Jay Scrubb G (Out), Jason Preston G (Out), Kawhi Leonard F (Out).
Bulls: Lonzo Ball G (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Bulls are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games against teams with winning records. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Bulls.

Clippers vs Bulls picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

Chicago might be 1-4 against the spread in its last five games facing teams with winning records, but that has actually been a problem for this team all year long. The Bulls are just not beating very good basketball teams, and this Clippers team would fall under that distinction if it had George all season. With that, it’ll be interesting to see if Chicago is able to find a way to get the job done in this game. We’re rather skeptical of that, with the Clippers’ defense being a chief reason.

Los Angeles really struggled to get stops against Utah last game, as the Jazz shot 55.1% from the field against the Clippers on Tuesday. However, Los Angeles is 9-1 straight-up and 8-2 ATS when coming off a game in which the team allowed its opponent to shoot 55% or better from the field over the last three seasons. 

With that in mind, don’t be surprised if the Clippers come out with a lot more energy defensively after a spirted film session with head coach Ty Lue, who is one of the game’s brightest basketball minds. He knows how to get his message across, and it only helps that he has George to go out there and defend one of the Bulls’ wings. George could be a little rusty right now, but he still has the tools to bother either DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine. 

Meanwhile, the Clippers have a nice one-two punch on the inside right now, where both Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein bring a lot of toughness to Los Angeles. Both players will be important in this one, as they’ll be counted on to come close to matching the production of Nikola Vucevic. 

Another area where Los Angeles has an edge is at the point guard position, as Chicago is still waiting on the return of Ball. His absence will be felt in this game, as Reggie Jackson really can be dangerous with the ball in his hands — especially when he is playing off of George, who creates more space for all of his teammates. 

Overall, with the Bulls not quite at full strength yet, it’s hard to see them easily beating a team that is as well-coached as the Clippers. Los Angeles should keep this game tight until the end, when it will have a legitimate chance to steal a victory. 

Prediction: Clippers +3.5 (-110 at bet365)

Over/Under analysis

Most sportsbooks have already lowered this number significantly, and we think you’ll be fine if you have to take the Under wherever you can find it. However, if you have this number available, you’d only be doing yourself a favor. Either way, the Clippers should come out and play with a lot more intensity on the defensive end after the way they let the Jazz get whatever they wanted in the first half of Tuesday’s game. Meanwhile, the Under has hit in six of the last seven games that the Bulls have played, and it’s also a ridiculous 17-5 in the team’s last 22 games. 

Both of these teams rank in the middle of the league in pace of play, and neither one of them is in the Top 10 in offensive rating. With that, you shouldn’t be too worried about this game turning into a track meet. These teams also happened to meet back on November 14, and they combined to score only 190 points. 

Prediction: Under 223 (-110 at Caesars)

Best bet

Ty Lue made it a point to say that he wasn’t doing a good enough job of getting Marcus Morris the ball against the Utah Jazz, which means you should see a concerted effort to get him some touches against the Bulls. Morris has scored only five points over the last two games, and he’s just too important to this Los Angeles team to continue struggling like that. This meeting with Chicago offers him a good chance to break out of his slump, and this point total really isn’t high enough for a player with his ability to make shots. 

Before this brutal two-game stretch, Morris had scored at least 13 points in five of his previous six games. Look for him to get back to that mark tonight, especially with the Clippers leaning a little more on George than they wanted to in his first game back. They’d be wise to let somebody else carry the load on offense a bit, and Morris is the right guy for the job. 

Pick: Marcus Morris Over 12.5 [oints (-106)

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