With a one-game Thursday slate in the books, the NBA is back with an action-packed crop of Friday outings. Out East, a pair of Central Division foes clash when the 6-1 Bulls travel to face the 5-3 Bucks.
The early-season matchup (8:00 p.m. ET) sees Chicago look to keep its red-hot start alive. On the other side, Milwaukee is seeking a rebound after dropping two of three contests.
Below, we’ll break down a Bulls vs. Bucks prediction and picks to consider for Friday night’s game. Use PrizePicks NBA to make player picks and win money if you’re right.
Bulls vs. Bucks Prediction, Preview for Friday, 11/7
In a whopping 271 all-time meetings between these sides in the regular season, the Bulls hold a narrow 137-134 advantage over the Bucks. The historic franchises split their 2024-25 bouts.
As far as an injury report is concerned, both teams are missing talent. For the Bulls, G Coby White is nearing a return from his calf strain but remains out for the time being. SG Ayo Dosunmu practiced on Thursday and is questionable for Friday.
On the opposite side, the Bucks are without G Kevin Porter Jr. for at least four weeks following meniscus surgery.
Chicago Bulls Preview vs. Bucks
2024 saw the Bulls finish 39-43 for the second-straight season, ultimately losing to the Heat in the play-in tournament. Despite that, head coach Billy Donovan is back for year six at the helm.
Is Chicago’s patience paying off? Their 6-1 start marks their best since 2021, the last time the franchise reached the postseason.
Offensively, the Bulls’ early-year identity is packing the paint (second in points per game), keeping the ball moving (fifth in assists per game) and canning 3-pointers (third in efficiency).
The jury is still out on Chicago’s defense. It ranks 24th in both fastbreak points and paint scoring allowed on a nightly basis.
Milwaukee Bucks Preview vs. Bulls
Head coach Doc Rivers’ first season in Milwaukee didn’t go as planned. His team won 48 games but got “gentleman swept” (4-1) in the first round of the playoffs by the Pacers.
Since a 4-1 start to this season, the Bucks fell on both sides of two-point outcomes. They lost to the Kings 135-133, then defeated the Pacers 117-115. Tuesday saw them get blown out, 128-100, by the Raptors.
Thanks to some stellar 3-point shooting (39.5%) and conversions inside the arc (59.9%), the Bucks boast the NBA’s top effective FG percentage at 59.6.
If there’s a potential kryptonite for Milwaukee, it’s free throws. They’re dead last in percentage on offense (69.4) and allow the third-most attempts per game (30.3) on defense.
Bulls vs. Bucks Picks, Stats for PrizePicks Today
Here are three top Bulls vs. Bucks picks to target on Friday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by PG Josh Giddey, F Matas Buzelis, and PF Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Bulls PG Josh Giddey vs. Bucks Projection: 40.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- Seven games into the year, Giddey is posting career-high averages for points (23.1), rebounds (10.0), assists (9.1), field goal percentage (49.6) and 3-point percentage (41.9).
- In his last four outings, Giddey averaged 48 combined points, rebounds, and assists. He went over his Friday projection in each game.
- Of all players to log as many minutes as him (239), Giddey’s 28.2% usage rate ranks 12th, according to NBA.
- Per FantasyPros, the Bucks give up the 10th-most fantasy points to PGs (52.10) per game.
Bulls F Matas Buzelis vs. Bucks Projection: 20.5 Pts+Rebs
- Buzelis averages 14.9 points per game this year, including outputs of 21 and 27.
- Last year’s 11th pick has hit the 5-rebound mark in five of seven games to open the season.
- Milwaukee’s defense is nothing to write home about. It ranks 22nd in opposing scoring at 119.1 points per game while slotting in at 25th in rebounds allowed (59 per game).
- The Bucks rank fourth and seventh in fantasy production yielded to the SF and PF positions.
Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Bulls Projection: 39.5 Pts+Asts
- This year’s Chicago team ranks 24th in paint points per game allowed at 54. They’re also 24th in fastbreak scoring surrendered, another Greek Freak staple.
- In two games against the Bulls last year, Antetokounmpo went off for 41 and 38 points. He had 8 and 5 assists, respectively, in those matchups.
- Per databallr, the multi-time MVP ranks in the 100th percentile in potential assists per 100 possessions at 19.8.
- Just five teams allow more points per game to PFs than the Bulls.
- Antetokounmpo has the league’s second-highest usage rate (34%) among players with 200+ minutes.
Make NBA Picks on PrizePicks
Bulls vs. Bucks picks aren’t the only ones to consider as the NBA season rolls on. You can make picks for at least two players with PrizePicks and win real-money rewards if you’re right.
Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued NBA coverage and analysis all season.
