The CHICAGO and the PHILADELPHIA will both be gunning for a victory on 10/18/2018 at 8:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
CHICAGO BULLS vs PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, October 18, 2018
Where:Â Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | ML |
| 501 | CHICAGO | -11 (-110) | 219 (-110) | 450 -650 |
| 502 | PHILADELPHIA |
TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: -11
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA , CHICAGO
Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -11 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 219.
The Philadelphia 76ers attempt to bounce back from a poor season debut when they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Philadelphia suffered a 105-87 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday and hopes for a better showing against a Chicago team that missed the playoffs last season.
The 76ers fancy themselves as a top-flight contender in the Eastern Conference but didn’t look the part while giving a subpar effort on both ends of the court in their opener. “We have 81 more (games) to play,” forward Robert Covington told reporters after the loss. “We can’t get hell bent on what happened in this one. We understand that we are going to see them again and they are going to be one the teams we have to go through.” The Bulls are without forward Lauri Markkanen due to an elbow injury and offseason acquisition Jabari Parker will begin the season as a reserve. “He knows how important his role is in that second unit, to be a facilitator on offense,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters of Parker. “I thought he made some really good reads with the ball in his hands. That’s an important role. And he understands that.”
TV:Â 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE BULLS (2017-18: 27-55):Â Parker initially seemed miffed that he wasn’t going to be the starting small forward as he feels healthy after recovering from the second ACL tear in his left knee in four NBA campaigns. First-round pick Wendell Carter Jr. is in the starting lineup, along with Bobby Portis, and the latter will be a restricted free agent after the season. “No distraction at all,” Portis told reporters of his status. “I play this game because I love it. Obviously, you want to make as much money as possible to help your family. But I started playing basketball because it’s fun to me and I loved it. I still have that same passion, that same heart every night I go out there.”
ABOUT THE 76ERS (0-1):Â Second-year guard Markelle Fultz made his first NBA start against Boston and struggled to five points on 2-of-7 shooting in 24 minutes. Fultz played in only 14 games last season due to physical and mental issues after being the No. 1 overall pick and Philadelphia plans to push his development early in the campaign. “He played half a game. I tried to get him a large majority of those as a point guard,” 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters. “As I said to everybody, and I’ll say it again, Markelle is going to have steady minutes … sometimes he is going to be just incredible, and sometimes he is going to be part of the NBA at a very young age on a pretty good team.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers won two of last season’s three meetings.
2. Chicago G Denzel Valentine (ankle) and F Cristiano Felicio (ankle) are questionable for the opener.
3. Philadelphia F Wilson Chandler (hamstring), G Jerryd Bayless (knee) and C Mike Muscala (ankle) are all expected to miss their second straight game.
PREDICTION:Â 76ers 101, Bulls 91
| Tony’s Pick | TEAM |
| PHILADELPHIA | -650 |
25% Bonus via Western Union
