Brunson and Towns lead Knicks to 7.5 point favorite status over Bulls
Sportsbooks set the total at 234.5 points as New York visits Chicago to extend its winning streak.
By Ryan Davidson ·
The 2026 NBA season is entering its second week with both contenders holding identical 1-3 records. The defending champion New York Knicks will face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
New York enters the game as a 7.5-point favorite. Sportsbooks have set the over/under total at 234.5 points. The Knicks are 0-1 on the road this season. They won their most recent game 111-97 against Detroit on Tuesday. The Bulls are 0-1 at home. They lost 134-99 to Boston on Monday.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulated the matchup 10,000 times to generate its predictions. The model projects a combined total of 238 points. This projection aligns with the over side of the current betting line. The over has hit in six of the last nine meetings between these two teams.
Chicago’s defensive struggles are evident in the standings. The Bulls rank 30th in the league, allowing 129.5 points per game. New York’s offense is led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson averages 22.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds. Towns averages 22.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
Caleb Wilson is the primary offensive threat for Chicago. The forward averages 21 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 steals while playing 34 minutes per game. The Bulls finished fourth in the Central Division last season with a 31-51 record. The Knicks finished second in the Atlantic Division with a 53-29 record.
The SportsLine model has maintained a 26-10 record on top-rated spread picks for NBA games since the start of the 2025-26 season. This winning streak has returned nearly $19,000 in profit for players with $100 stakes. The model has achieved four-digit profits in five consecutive seasons.
The simulation indicates that one side of the spread hits more than 60% of the time. The specific side is available through the SportsLine platform. The Knicks aim for their second consecutive victory. The Bulls seek their first win at home in the 2026-27 season.
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