The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls will meet in the first night of NBA Cup action on Friday night. Chicago comes into this game with an undefeated record and a ton of momentum, while the Knicks are still figuring things out under new head coach Mike Brown. Before this game tips off from United Center, you can continue scrolling to get my Knicks vs Bulls prediction for tonight.
Our Knicks vs Bulls Pick
- Pick: Bulls +5.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls
- Date & Time: Friday, October 31, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Knicks are still trying to find consistent footing under their new coaching staff. Their 2-2 start has featured two road losses in succession to the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. They fell 121-111 to the Bucks on Tuesday despite 36 points from Jalen Brunson and 24 from Mikal Bridges. The team shot poorly from deep in that outing and needs to find more consistent shooting from the supporting cast.
The Bulls are off to a 4-0 start, showing improved chemistry. Their young forward Matas Buzelis has given the Bulls big minutes, while Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic are providing steady play in their respective roles. The Bulls are missing guard Coby White and big man Zach Collins, but that has not impacted them negatively so far.
Better ball movement has led to better offensive efficiency from the Bulls so far this season. Chicago is averaging 30.5 assists per game and is shooting 49.6% from the field. The Knicks are averaging just 23 assists per game and are a less efficient 40.6% from the field on the year.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first of four games these teams are schedule to play against each other during the regular season.
- The Knicks are 2-2 both straight up and against the spread this season.
- Chicago is 4-0 both straight up and against the spread thus far.
- Both teams are 2-2 on over/unders to begin the year.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | Over 26.5 points |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Under 21.5 points |
| Josh Giddey | Over 7.5 assists |
Knicks vs Bulls Model Projection
Score Projection: Knicks 112 – Bulls 115
Win Probability: Knicks 45% | Bulls 55%
Final Thoughts
I think that the Knicks have better individual talent at the top of their rotation than the Bulls do. But I also think that the Bulls have done a better job of identifying which role players they want to use in which roles. That consistency should help to offset the star power for the Knicks. I’ll take the points with the Bulls as a home underdog here, as they could very well win this game outright to improve to 5-0.
