Chicago Bulls vs 76ers Prediction 8 November 2026
🏀 Chicago host Philadelphia in Sunday's NBA regular-season game. The 76ers are firmly placed near the top of the Eastern Conference and recently beat the Bulls by double digits. The hosts, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to the season and are still trying to find their form. The visitors will be clear favourites, with the main question being whether Chicago can put up any resistance at home.
Head-to-Head
📊 The teams met for the first time this season only recently (3 November), when Philadelphia won comfortably at home (126-107). Across their last five meetings, though, the Sixers have only a narrow edge (3-2).
Head-to-head statistics Chicago Bulls - 76ers
Chicago: defence is missing again
Chicago go into this game at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls were beaten 135-105 by New York in their last game. It was their sixth straight defeat since their only win of the season, against Milwaukee (132-125). The Bulls concede an average of 129.6 points per game, the worst mark in the league. Even three days’ rest before this game is unlikely to fix their defensive problems, given that they conceded 124 and 133 points in their previous two home games.
Chicago’s offence is not their main problem: they average more points per game than Philadelphia (111.6 to 109.4). However, their efficiency suffers because of two factors: a low field-goal percentage (41.2% compared with their opponents’ 44.4%) and a high number of turnovers (16.1 per game).
Match Results: Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia: top of the East despite a setback in Cleveland
Philadelphia travel to Chicago after a heavy defeat in Cleveland, but they remain top of the Eastern Conference (8-2). The Sixers lost their previous game in Cleveland on Friday (95-119). It was the team's first truly poor performance of the season: Nurse's players shot just 36% from the field and 25% from three-point range, while Embiid and James combined for only 14 points on 3-for-21 shooting from the field. Before that defeat, the Sixers had won 8 of 9 games, including a notable victory over Detroit (112-106).
Philadelphia will try to dictate the pace through fast breaks and Maxey's individual skill, while also exploiting their advantage in the paint. The hosts' weak defence will almost certainly allow the visitors to score comfortably. The key will be how confidently the Sixers start the game and whether they let the Bulls gain confidence in the first half.
Match Results: Philadelphia 76ers
Latest news
Chicago Bulls
⛔ Collins will definitely miss the game for the Bulls, while Claxton's and Smith's availability will be decided just before tip-off.
📋 Projected starting five: Powell, Giddey, Smith, Buzelis, Wilson.
Philadelphia 76ers
⛔ Bona, Barlow and Hukporti are sidelined for Philadelphia.
📋 Projected starting five: Embiid, Maxey, James, Edgecombe, Brown.
First-quarter prediction
Chicago scored fewer than 28.5 points in the first quarter in 7 of their last 8 games, which also supports the 30.5 line. In home head-to-head games, the Bulls stayed below 30.5 points in 15 of 16 meetings. However, they average 29.8 points at home this season and 31 in recent home games. We pick Bulls First Quarter Team Total Points Under 30.5 at odds of 1.65.
Outcome Prediction
Chicago have covered a (+6.5) handicap in five consecutive home games. Philadelphia have won eight of their last ten games, so this bet does not require the home side to win: they only need to avoid losing by seven points or more. We pick Bulls Handicap (+6.5) at odds of 2.25.
Risky Bet
Philadelphia have scored fewer than 30.5 points in the first quarter in 11 of their last 12 games. Their away average this season is 25.5 points. The counterargument is that Chicago concede an average of 32 points in the first quarter at home. We’re backing the 76ers’ first-quarter team total under 30.5 points at odds of 2.44.
Reliable bet
Chicago have covered a (+6.5) handicap in five straight home games and a (+12.5) handicap in 9 of their last 10 home games against Philadelphia. Both results support the more cautious (+13.5) handicap. We pick the Bulls (+13.5) handicap at odds of 1.42.
Top Scorers
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.8 points per game this season. He has gone over the 27.5-point line in 55% of past games, but the key factor here is not that record; it is this particular matchup and the recent context. In their last game against Chicago on 3 November, Maxey scored 26 points and had 11 assists, making 10 of 15 field goals. It was one of his most efficient games of the season, and the Bulls’ defence had no answer for his drives to the basket. That is unlikely to change this time. We’ll back Maxey to score over 25.5 points at odds of 1.95*.
*Odds are approximate and may vary between bookmakers.
⭐ Editor's prediction
Chicago are highly motivated to end their long losing streak, and Claxton's possible return could make them more competitive. However, the Bulls' defence is in a deep-seated crisis, and Philadelphia have enough firepower to exploit it even on an off night. The loss to Cleveland is more likely to fire up the Sixers than leave them stunned. We expect an open, high-scoring game driven by the superstars. Our pick is Total Points Over 236.5.
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Betting Tips: Chicago Bulls - Philadelphia 76ers
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