Bulls vs Pelicans Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV Channel for Oct. 4

Now is time for celebration, as the long wait for more Chicago Bulls basketball has finally ended. With a tough preseason schedule ahead, the Bulls will be put to the test right away as they aim to dispel the narrative that they can’t beat the NBA’s top teams.

It all starts tonight, in a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans. After trading for CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas last year, the Pelicans hope to now break into the league’s upper echelon with the return of Zion Williamson and a full summer of development from enticing prospects like Herb Jones and Trey Murphy to propel a playoff push.

Both of these teams have a lot to prove this season, so it’s no surprise that even Vegas believes tonight’s matchup will be a close one. Here’s everything you need to know before tonight’s game tips off.

How to watch Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans

• Date: October 4, 2022
• Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
• Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Watch: TNT, NBC Sports Chicago+
• Stream: FuboTV

Chicago Bulls vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds, Spread, Over/Under

• Favorite: Bulls (-1.5)
• Over/under: n/a
• Moneyline: -142 Chicago/+116 New Orleans

Gambling odds and information courtesy of FanDuel. Displayed odds current as of Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. CT.

Projected Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup and Injury Report

• PG: Ayo Dosunmu(?)
• SG: Zach LaVine
• SF: DeMar DeRozan
• PF: Patrick Williams
• C: Nikola Vucevic
• IR: Out – Lonzo Ball, Justin Lewis

The great mystery of tonight’s game is just who will get the starting job at point guard. Given that the preseason is usually an opportunity to let the young guns run, I expect to see the Bulls conserve Goran Dragic and Alex Caruso’s energy by giving Dosunmu the nod here. Whether or not he’ll maintain the role into the regular season remains to be seen.

Staff Predictions

Given that the Bulls are looking to employ a more free-flowing and random offense this season, not having Lonzo Ball orchestrate the offense in transition will certainly hurt here. This much is especially true when Ball proved he had a bone to pick with the Pelicans, as he exploded for 17 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals triple-double performance in his one game against NOLA last year. The return of Zion will only make this an even more exciting matchup, as the Pelicans appear to be one of the fastest-rising teams in the NBA.

Bulls 104, Pelicans 101

Bulls Upcoming Schedule

The Bulls will close out their slate of preseason games against these three teams, each of whom is locked in to contend for the playoffs during the 2022-23 season.

• Oct. 7 vs Denver Nuggets
• Oct. 9 @ Toronto Raptors
• Oct. 11 vs Milwaukee Bucks