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Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview: Tips, Odds & Predictions

This will be the third match-up of the season between the Bulls and Nets, coincidentally coming up two days after the Bulls visit Brooklyn on Friday, January 16th. Chicago is fighting tooth and nail to claim the play-in spot and make the playoffs, while Brooklyn seems destined to be a lottery team come season’s end. Explore our list of the best NBA betting sites to place your bet.

Ian Wanyeki

Sports Writer

Last updated: 2026-01-12

Fact checked by:

Chad Nagel

Sports & Betting Editor

7 minutes read

SportsBoom offers honest and impartial bookmaker reviews to help you make informed choices. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our content remains independent and free from promotional influence. For more information, see our Content Transparency and How We Review pages.

Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates with teammate Kevin Huerter

Matas Buzelis #14 celebrates with Kevin Huerter / Getty Images

Table of Contents

How to Watch Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets

Date: Sunday, Jan 18th, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
TV: Chicago Sports Network
Streaming: Stream with NBA League Pass
Records: Chicago Bulls (18-20), Brooklyn Nets (11-24)
Referee: N/A
Last Meeting: Chicago Bulls 103-113 Brooklyn Nets (Dec 3rd 2025 | NBA)

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

Chicago Bulls: 5/4 (2.25) – 44.4%
Brooklyn Nets: 4/7 (1.57) – 63.6%
Forecast odds – Betting available on BetMGM closer to the event.

Head-to-Head Record

Last five meetings (NFL)

1
03/12/2025 Chicago Bulls 103-113 Brooklyn Nets at United Center
2
13/03/2025 Chicago Bulls 116-110 Brooklyn Nets at United Center
3
02/12/2024 Chicago Bulls 128-102 Brooklyn Nets at United Center
4
01/11/2024 Brooklyn Nets 120-112 Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center
5
29/03/2024 Brooklyn Nets 125-108 Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center
The Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets have played 190 games in the regular season, with 101 victories for the Bulls and 89 for the Nets, while they have played ten games in the playoffs, with seven victories for the Bulls and three for the Nets.

Chicago Bulls: Current Form - WLLLW

The Bulls have lost three games against the Pistons 108-93, the Celtics 115-101, and the Hornets 112-99. These losses came in between wins against the Magic 121-114 and the Mavericks 125-107.

Players like Josh Giddey act as primary facilitators and ball-handlers. At the same time, Nikola Vučević serves as a crucial “connector” at the top of the key, capable of shooting, passing, or rolling to the basket.

Their defense is struggling with points in the paint, second-chance points, and overall team connectivity, requiring players like Coby White and Josh Giddey to step up individually on-ball, while coaches explore lineup adjustments.

Chicago Bulls Offense vs. Brooklyn Nets Defense

The Bulls offense frequently uses a five-out structure to spread the floor, creating open driving lanes to the basket. It prioritizes attacking the paint, ranking high in both drives and points in the paint across the league. Injuries have restricted the Bulls' offense from building momentum, especially considering they began the season on a roll.

On the other hand, the Nets’ defense this season is characterized by an aggressive, high-pressure, and versatile switching scheme that has recently seen a significant turnaround after a historically bad start that witnessed them being on pace for one of the worst defensive ratings in NBA history.

The injuries to the Bulls team and the defensive improvement by the Nets’ defense ensure this contest will be competitive to the wire.

Key Players to Watch

Coby White (Shooting Guard)
Coby White will be crucial if the Bulls are to claim victory, especially considering Josh Giddey is racing to be fit. He is the team’s second leading scorer with 18.6 points per game and will be required to facilitate more, as well as score.
Nikola Vucevic (Center)
Vucevic has been a calming veteran presence for the Bulls with his leadership and consistent production. He is averaging 16.5 points per game and 9.3 rebounds.
Matas Buzelis (Power Forward)
Matas Buzelis has been a highlight reel machine for the Bulls. He combines an unorthodox, potent style of play with elite athleticism. He leads the team in blocks with 1.4 while averaging 14.9 points per game.

Chicago Bulls Injury Report

Zach Collins (sprained right toe), Yuki Kawamura (lower leg), and Noa Essengue (left shoulder injury) will all miss this contest. Josh Giddey (hamstring) will be re-evaluated before the matchup, but is likely to be out.

These injuries are highly significant, but they have the right plug-and-play players to compete against a mediocre Nets team.

Brooklyn Nets: Current Form - LLLWL

The Nets have lost four of their last five games against the Grizzlies 103-98, the Clippers 121-105, the Magic 104-103, and the Wizards 119-99, with their sole win coming against the Nuggets 127-115.

The Nets’ offense is centered on a motion-heavy, team-oriented system focused on player movement, spacing, and high-percentage shots, moving away from the isolation-heavy style of their “Big 3” era. The Nets currently average 109.1 points per game.

Their defense, on the other hand, is still recovering from the initial slump that saw them being one of the worst in the NBA, and it is a top-performing unit in the league, driven by an aggressive, connected, and effort-based system.

Brooklyn Nets Offense vs. Chicago Bulls Defense

The Brooklyn Nets' overall offensive performance has been up-and-down due to their youth and transitional phase. The team uses a balanced scoring attack with all five starters capable of reaching double-digit points.

The Bulls' defense, in essence, has been a major concern, marked by lapses in fundamentals like paint protection and rebounding, despite efforts from players and coaches to correct course.

This contest will be interesting as both the Nets' offense and the Bulls' defense lack consistency.

Key Players to Watch

Michael Porter Jr. (Small Forward)
Michael Porter Jr. is the leading scorer on the team with 25.9 points per game. He is a primary offensive option who excels at shooting from deep and can create his own shot.
Nic Claxton (Center)
Nic is the primary rim protector and the backbone of the defense. Claxton leads the team in blocks per game with 1.3, rebounds with 7.7, and assists with 4.1.
Cam Thomas (Shooting Guard)
Cam is back after a lengthy injury layoff. He has played 14 games and is the team’s second leading scorer with 19.6 points per game. He is a deadly scoring weapon whether starting or coming in from the bench.

Brooklyn Nets Injury Report

Drake Powell (knee), E.J. Liddell (knee soreness), and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are the only absentees for this game.

These injuries are not that significant.

Predicted Line-Ups

Chicago Bulls
Point Guard: Tre Jones
Shooting Guard: Coby White
Small Forward: Isaac Okoro
Power Forward: Matas Buzelis
Center: Nikola Vucevic
Brooklyn Nets
Point Guard: Egor Demin
Shooting Guard: Terance Mann
Small Forward: Michael Porter Jr.
Power Forward: Noah Clowney
Center: Nic Claxton

Suggested Main Bets

Value bets are about finding lines that match the game script, not just picking a winner. Before you place any of the bets below, compare prices across top betting sites in the USA so you can get the best odds for the Bulls markets and the total points line.

Bulls to Win – The Bulls are definitely looking to record a win in this game, as odds are quite favorable for them, given the home-field advantage and the Nets’ poor form.
Total Points: Over 210.5 – The Nets may not score quite high in this game, though the Bulls may explode. Therefore, the total point mark indicated here is reasonably achievable.
Bulls to Cover a -4.5 Point Spread: The Bulls will be asserting their dominance in this game. The expectation is that the point gap between these two teams may be quite wide.

Prop Bets & Same-Game Parlay Ideas

Nikola Vucevic to Make Over 7.5 rebounds: Vucevic is a savvy veteran who gives tough punishment on the boards. The Nets have been struggling in rebounds; thus, Vucevic will definitely make a mark.
Michael Porter Jr. to Score Over 16.5 Points: Porter Jr. occupies the leading role as the star player for the struggling Nets team. He is guaranteed to make more touches on the ball, which he will be looking to convert into scores.

Why the Bulls Can Win

The Bulls are fighting to wade off the Bucks, who are hot in pursuit of 10th place in the standings, which guarantees the last play-in spot before the playoffs.
With the home-field advantage, the Bulls will be ready to record a victorious outcome; defeat will not be in their playbook.

Expert Prediction

This will be the Bulls’ second back-to-back game against the Nets, after the Friday 16th face-off. Therefore, a home win will be vital for the Bulls, as they will be looking to make their fans proud.

Ian WanyekiSports Writer

Ian Wanyeki is a Nairobi-based sports journalist with a strong passion for sport and an impressive grasp of multiple disciplines. A Bachelor of Science graduate from Kenyatta University, he has worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, a sports reporter at NTV, and a correspondent and contributor for Quartz Africa.

NBA Match Predictions

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Table of Contents

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview: Tips, Odds & Predictions

Ian Wanyeki

Sports Writer

Last updated: 2026-01-12

Fact checked by:

Chad Nagel

Sports & Betting Editor

7 minutes read

Matas Buzelis #14 celebrates with Kevin Huerter / Getty Images

Head-to-Head Record

Last five meetings (NFL)

03/12/2025 Chicago Bulls 103-113 Brooklyn Nets at United Center

13/03/2025 Chicago Bulls 116-110 Brooklyn Nets at United Center

02/12/2024 Chicago Bulls 128-102 Brooklyn Nets at United Center

01/11/2024 Brooklyn Nets 120-112 Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center

29/03/2024 Brooklyn Nets 125-108 Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center

The Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets have played 190 games in the regular season, with 101 victories for the Bulls and 89 for the Nets, while they have played ten games in the playoffs, with seven victories for the Bulls and three for the Nets.

Chicago Bulls: Current Form - WLLLW

The Bulls have lost three games against the Pistons 108-93, the Celtics 115-101, and the Hornets 112-99. These losses came in between wins against the Magic 121-114 and the Mavericks 125-107.

Chicago Bulls Offense vs. Brooklyn Nets Defense

The injuries to the Bulls team and the defensive improvement by the Nets’ defense ensure this contest will be competitive to the wire.

Key Players to Watch

Coby White (Shooting Guard)
Coby White will be crucial if the Bulls are to claim victory, especially considering Josh Giddey is racing to be fit. He is the team’s second leading scorer with 18.6 points per game and will be required to facilitate more, as well as score.
Nikola Vucevic (Center)
Vucevic has been a calming veteran presence for the Bulls with his leadership and consistent production. He is averaging 16.5 points per game and 9.3 rebounds.
Matas Buzelis (Power Forward)
Matas Buzelis has been a highlight reel machine for the Bulls. He combines an unorthodox, potent style of play with elite athleticism. He leads the team in blocks with 1.4 while averaging 14.9 points per game.

Chicago Bulls Injury Report

These injuries are highly significant, but they have the right plug-and-play players to compete against a mediocre Nets team.

Brooklyn Nets: Current Form - LLLWL

The Nets have lost four of their last five games against the Grizzlies 103-98, the Clippers 121-105, the Magic 104-103, and the Wizards 119-99, with their sole win coming against the Nuggets 127-115.

Brooklyn Nets Offense vs. Chicago Bulls Defense

The Bulls' defense, in essence, has been a major concern, marked by lapses in fundamentals like paint protection and rebounding, despite efforts from players and coaches to correct course.

This contest will be interesting as both the Nets' offense and the Bulls' defense lack consistency.

Key Players to Watch

Michael Porter Jr. (Small Forward)
Michael Porter Jr. is the leading scorer on the team with 25.9 points per game. He is a primary offensive option who excels at shooting from deep and can create his own shot.
Nic Claxton (Center)
Nic is the primary rim protector and the backbone of the defense. Claxton leads the team in blocks per game with 1.3, rebounds with 7.7, and assists with 4.1.
Cam Thomas (Shooting Guard)
Cam is back after a lengthy injury layoff. He has played 14 games and is the team’s second leading scorer with 19.6 points per game. He is a deadly scoring weapon whether starting or coming in from the bench.

Brooklyn Nets Injury Report

Drake Powell (knee), E.J. Liddell (knee soreness), and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are the only absentees for this game.

These injuries are not that significant.

Suggested Main Bets

Bulls to Win – The Bulls are definitely looking to record a win in this game, as odds are quite favorable for them, given the home-field advantage and the Nets’ poor form.

Total Points: Over 210.5 – The Nets may not score quite high in this game, though the Bulls may explode. Therefore, the total point mark indicated here is reasonably achievable.

Bulls to Cover a -4.5 Point Spread: The Bulls will be asserting their dominance in this game. The expectation is that the point gap between these two teams may be quite wide.

Prop Bets & Same-Game Parlay Ideas

Nikola Vucevic to Make Over 7.5 rebounds: Vucevic is a savvy veteran who gives tough punishment on the boards. The Nets have been struggling in rebounds; thus, Vucevic will definitely make a mark.

Michael Porter Jr. to Score Over 16.5 Points: Porter Jr. occupies the leading role as the star player for the struggling Nets team. He is guaranteed to make more touches on the ball, which he will be looking to convert into scores.