The Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls will start the season against each other on Wednesday night in Chicago. Detroit enters fresh off a 44-38 season and a trip to the playoffs, while Chicago looks to regain relevance after finishing 39-43 and bowing out in the Play-In Tournament. Before these Central Division rivals square off, keep reading to find my Pistons vs Bulls prediction.
Our Pistons vs Bulls Pick
- Pick: Detroit Pistons -3.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Detroit Pistons @ Chicago Bulls
- Date & Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Pistons vs Bulls Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Pistons -3.5 | Pistons -145 / Bulls +125 | 235.5 points |
Key Storylines
Detroit has momentum after a strong 2024-25 campaign where Cade Cunningham took a major step forward. He anchored a young Pistons squad that finally broke through with a playoff win in their first-round series against the New York Knicks. Chicago is in the middle of an interesting chapter in their history, as they are not good enough to contend but not bad enough to get a top draft pick.
The Bulls are missing guard Coby White and forward Zach Collins for this opener. Chicago will need other players to step up in their absence, with White’s outside shooting being especially hard to replace. Detroit is dealing with the absence of guard Jaden Ivey, meaning Cunningham will need to carry the load for them. Forward Caris LeVert is listed as day-to-day for Detroit but is expected to play.
The Pistons adding LeVert and Duncan Robinson makes them very interesting in the Eastern Conference this year. Chicago brought in Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, and Kevin Huerter and they will hope that those acquisitions help them compete in the East this year.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Detroit won three of the four games that these division rivals played last season. Chicago won their first meeting in November, but Detroit took the final three games of the season series in February. Three of the four games between these teams were decided by double-digits.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham (DET) | Over 26.5 points |
| Nikola Vučević (CHI) | Over 17.5 points |
Pistons vs Bulls Model Projection
Score Projection: Detroit Pistons 112 – Chicago Bulls 104
Win Probability: Pistons 62% / Bulls 38%
Final Thoughts
My model gives the edge to the Detroit Pistons in this game. They have a continuity edge going into this season and they have a genuine star in Cunningham, who will help them to close games out. I expect the Pistons to get a win on the road to start this season and I will lay the points with the Pistons in the most highly anticipated season opener they’ve had in a long time.
