What continues to be an evolving situation for the Chicago Bulls roster in the last few weeks could come to a head coming out of the Christmas break. Even the coaching staff is facing issues with the league’s health and safety protocol this week. Second-year head coach Billy Donovan is in the health and safety protocol ahead of the Bulls Dec. 26 matchup at home at the United Center against the division foe Indiana Pacers.
Coming into this game, the Bulls are sporting a record of 19-10 following another postponement earlier in the week. The last game the Bulls played in was on Dec. 20 in a win at home over the Houston Rockets by a score of 133-118.
Meanwhile, the Pacers head into this game with a record of 14-19 following a Dec. 23 win over the Rockets by a score of 118-106. The Pacers are trying to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture as we are about to hit the halfway point of the season.
Here’s a look at the betting odds and game prediction as the Bulls take on the Pacers at the United Center in Chicago, with tip-off time set for 7 p.m. CT.
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers betting odds
According to WynnBet, the Bulls are a 6.5-point favorite over the Pacers on Dec. 26. And the over under for this game is set at 219 points.
The ESPN matchup predictor gives the Bulls a 55.6 percent chance to down the Pacers.
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers prediction
There are some moving pieces emerging for both the Bulls and Pacers ahead of tip-off on Dec. 26. First and foremost, it now looks like the Bulls will be without point guard Lonzo Ball. ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Lonzo entering the health and safety protocol on Dec. 26 in a tweet.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is entering Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 26, 2021
The Bulls will also have assistant Chris Fleming serving as the interim head coach with Donovan in the health and safety protocol.
At least the rest of the Bulls rotation looks to be in order for this meeting with the Pacers. Key players such as star shooting guard Zach LaVine and rookie point guard Ayo Dosunmu are back for the Bulls for this game.
It is big for the Bulls to have the duo of star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan and LaVine back together. That should be enough for the Bulls to exact revenge on star big man Domantas Sabonis and the Pacers for the dismantling of Chicago on behalf of Indy a few weeks ago.