Game Details:
Matchup: Bulls (39-36) vs. Cavaliers (44-31)
Date & Time: Monday, April 7, 2025 | 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Betting Line: Cavaliers -4.5 | Over/Under: 221.0

Key Storylines

Playoff Positioning at Stake

With only a few games remaining in the regular season, both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers currently hold the 5th seed while the Bulls are fighting to stay out of the Play-In Tournament range in 8th. Expect both squads to come out with high urgency.

Battle of the Guards

Tonight’s matchup features an electrifying duel between Darius Garland and Coby White. Garland’s poised playmaking has been central to Cleveland’s offense, while White’s career year has been a major reason for Chicago’s unexpected success this season.

Home Court Strength

The Cavaliers have been tough to beat at home this season, posting a strong 26-12 record in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Bulls have struggled against upper-tier teams on the road, making this a tough draw for Chicago.

Injury Report

Bulls:
Out: Zach LaVine (ankle), Patrick Williams (foot)
Questionable: Andre Drummond (illness)

Cavaliers:
Out: Donovan Mitchell (knee), Dean Wade (shoulder)
Questionable: Jarrett Allen (hand)

Betting Trends

Against the Spread (ATS):

Bulls: 35-38-2 ATS
Cavaliers: 38-34-3 ATS

Over/Under Trends:

The total has gone over in 7 of Chicago’s last 10 games
The total has gone under in 5 of Cleveland’s last 7 games at home

Head-to-Head:

The Cavaliers lead the season series 2-1, including a 112-101 win in Cleveland back in February. Tonight’s game will determine whether Cleveland seals the season series or Chicago evens it up.

Player Prop to Watch

Darius Garland (Cavaliers) – Assists Total: 7.5
With Mitchell sidelined, Garland has stepped up as the primary playmaker. He’s averaged 8.6 assists over the last 5 games, making the over a strong play here.

DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) – Points Total: 23.5
DeRozan has scored 25+ points in four of his last five games and will need to shoulder even more of the offensive load with LaVine still out.

Prediction & Best Bets

Spread: Cavaliers -4.5 → Cleveland’s strong play at home combined with Chicago’s injury woes give the Cavs the edge here.
Total: Under 221.0 → With Mitchell out and both teams ranking in the top 10 in defensive rating, expect a grind-it-out contest.
Player Prop: Darius Garland Over 7.5 assists → He’s been dishing at a high rate and should continue to with extra responsibility.

Final Score Prediction:
Cavaliers 108, Bulls 100