A whopping two-thirds of the NBA is in action on Thursday, and there’s quite the variety in terms of matchups. One interconference bout at 8:00 p.m. ET sees the Chicago Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers.
With one team currently outside the play-in picture and the other looking to keep a stronghold on its spot, there remains plenty to play for despite both squads being below .500.
Below, we’ll break down our Trail Blazers vs. Bulls prediction and picks for Thursday night’s game. Make your NBA picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
A season ago, the Bulls posted a 39-43 record and occupied the final spot in the play-in. After a rough start to this year, they shook things up at the NBA trade deadline and now sit at 24-35, good for the No. 12 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Blazers, meanwhile, won 36 games last year. With interim head coach Tiago Splitter taking over for almost all of this season, they're now 28-31 and are tied with the LA Clippers for the end of the West play-in picture.
Thursday marks the 138th regular-season clash between these two sides. The Bulls own a narrow 69-68 series advantage, including consecutive wins on April 4 and November 19 of last year to get in the driver’s seat.
Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Spread, Over/Under
The Trail Blazers enter Thursday’s game as 3.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.53x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Bulls are home underdogs with a 2.43x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 34 states.
- Spread: Portland Trail Blazers -3.5
- Over/Under: 235.5
- Game Winner Payout: Trail Blazers 1.53x | Bulls 2.43x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Trail Blazers vs. Bulls injury report for Thursday, via NBA.com.
Portland Trail Blazers Injury Report
- F Deni Avdija (back): OUT
- SG Shaedon Sharpe (calf/fibula): OUT
- C Robert Williams III (foot): Questionable
- C Hansen Yang (mid back): Questionable
Chicago Bulls Injury Report
- C Zach Collins (toe): OUT
- SG Jaden Ivey (knee): OUT
- G Anfernee Simons (wrist): OUT
- C-PF Jalen Smith (calf): Doubtful
- F Patrick Williams (quad): Doubtful
Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Prediction on Spread
Here are the key stats to know before locking in your Trail Blazers vs. Bulls prediction on spread for Thursday, February 26 on PrizePicks.
- This year’s Blazers team is an even 6-6 against the spread as a road favorite. As home underdogs, Chicago is 9-8 ATS.
- Under Splitter, Portland’s offense sits 14th in 2-point shooting percentage (54.9) and 15th in per-game scoring (115.8 points).
- Defensively, the Trail Blazers are more of an interior-focused unit, ranking 16th in paint scoring (50.5 PPG) and 19th in 2-point shooting (55.1%).
- The Bulls’ offense is respectable, putting up the 11th-ranked effective field goal percentage (55.0) and the same 115.8 PPG as Portland.
- On the other end of the court, Chicago struggles, slotting in 25th in eFG% (55.4) and 27th in scoring (120.4 PPG).
Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Picks for PrizePicks Today: 2/26/26
Here are three top Trail Blazers vs. Bulls picks to target for Thursday, February 26 on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by C Donovan Clingan, F Jerami Grant, and F Matas Buzelis.
Trail Blazers C Donovan Clingan vs. Bulls Projection: 29.5 Pts + Rebs
- On the year, Clingan averages 23.4 combined points and rebounds. In his last nine games, that number is up to 29.5.
- In his sophomore campaign, the big man’s TS% is up to 61.1 after being 57.4 as a rookie.
- Entering Thursday’s play, Clingan owns the NBA’s top total rebounding rate at 22.6%.
- Chicago ranks 20th in opponent rebounds per night (53.9), including being 25th in defensive rebounding (34.2).
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Trail Blazers F Jerami Grant vs. Bulls Projection: 20.5 Points
- In his 12th season, Grant pours in 18.6 PPG. Since returning to the lineup on January 15, however, that average is down to 16.5.
- Seventeen games populate the aforementioned stretch, which has also seen Grant’s TS% drop to 58.5.
- Per NBARAPM, Grant’s shooting clip on 2-pointers (49.5%) puts him in the 30th percentile.
- In 20 career contests against Chicago, the former second-round pick nets just 16.4 PPG on 31.8% shooting from deep.
Bulls F Matas Buzelis vs. Trail Blazers Projection: 27.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- The Bulls’ second-year cornerstone averages 22.7 points, rebounds, and assists. That figure has leveled up to 23.6 in February, still well below Thursday’s projection.
- Per databallr, Buzelis rebounds just 1.9% of his own misses, an 11th-percentile mark.
- Portland ranks ninth in fewest rebounds per game yielded to foes at 52.4.
- Although Buzelis’ assist rate has improved by 3.3% year-over-year, his turnover rate is up 2.4%.
Make Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Picks on PrizePicks
Trail Blazers vs. Bulls picks aren’t the only avenue hoops fans have to getting in on the daily NBA action.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 34 states.
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