Atlanta visits Chicago at 8 p.m. ET at United Center in NBA Cup East Group C. The game is available on NBA League Pass. The Hawks are favored by 6.5, and the total is 244.5. Both teams play fast, but only one has consistently done enough with those extra possessions. Atlanta -6.5 is my best bet on the slate.
Atlanta Can Keep Scoring After the First Break
The Hawks are 7-5 and 4-2 on the road, with three days off before this game. They scored 139 against Washington in their first Cup game and average 118.3 overall. Chicago will give them opportunities to run, but the stronger case for Atlanta is that it can still get points when the Bulls make it play in the half court.
Atlanta has a 53.2% effective field-goal percentage and collects 29.5% of available offensive rebounds. Both numbers are better than Chicago’s. The Hawks don’t need the game to turn into a three-point contest if they can get good first shots and create second chances off their misses.
Chicago Needs Its Pace to Produce Better Shots
The Bulls are 1-9 and 0-4 at home after losing 124-119 to San Antonio. Chicago had enough offense to stay in that game, and its 106.5 estimated possessions per game give it plenty of chances to do the same Friday. The problem is its 50.3% effective field-goal percentage and the 128.8 points it allows per game.
Chicago has a frontcourt absence and uncertainty around a rotation scorer. The Bulls can still get a cover if they create early chances and shoot well, but the speed of the game cuts both ways. Quick misses and live-ball turnovers give Atlanta exactly the possessions Chicago needs to take away.
Team Comparison
| 2026–27 regular season | Atlanta | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Record / venue split | 7-5 / 4-2 away | 1-9 / 0-4 home |
| Points scored / allowed per game | 118.3 / 116.2 | 113.3 / 128.8 |
| Estimated pace | 105.5 | 106.5 |
| Effective field-goal percentage | 53.2% | 50.3% |
| Offensive rebound percentage | 29.5% | 27.7% |
Head-to-Head and Position Matchups
| Comparison | What to watch |
|---|---|
| Last meeting: December 23, 2025 | Chicago 126, Atlanta 123. The Bulls won a shootout then; their current defense makes that a harder route now. |
| Point guards | Chicago’s lead handlers have to distinguish a good early look from a rushed one. |
| Shooting guards | Atlanta can force long closeouts after driving and kicking out. |
| Small forwards | Atlanta’s wings can get ahead of Chicago’s defense after stops. |
| Power forwards | Chicago needs help boxing out when its frontcourt rotates to contest. |
| Centers | Atlanta can extend possessions if Chicago’s bigs get pulled away from the rim. |
Hawks vs Bulls Picks and Predictions
Best Bet and Spread Pick: Atlanta -6.5
Atlanta gets better results from a similar number of possessions and faces a defense allowing nearly 129 points per game. The extra rest helps, too. Chicago’s performance against San Antonio shows that it can hang around with a good offense, but I’d need more trust in its ability to get stops to take less than seven.
Total Pick: Under 244.5
I expect plenty of possessions. At 244.5, both offenses still have work to do, even if Atlanta has a good night. A 124-point Atlanta performance would require Chicago to get to 121 for the over. The Bulls can get there if the threes fall; their 113.3 scoring average makes me lean the other way.
Final picks: Atlanta moneyline, Atlanta -6.5 and Under 244.5. Projected score: Hawks 124, Bulls 114.
More NBA picks and predictions.
Prepared November 12, 2026. Odds, injury designations and starting lineups may change.