Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls prediction: Nic Claxton's debut can't hide the Bulls' last-ranked defense
Chicago finally gets its starting center back on a short leash, but a 76ers team stung in Cleveland finds the league's softest defense waiting six days after beating it.
Chicago Bulls covered the closing spread (Philadelphia 76ers -9.5). The game went over the closing total of 238.5.
- Proven wallets leaned Chicago Bulls on the moneyline (7 wallets, 70% one way): it lost.
- Proven wallets leaned Philadelphia 76ers on the spread (6 wallets, 67% one way): it lost.
- Proven wallets leaned the Under on the total (6 wallets, 67% one way): it lost.
| Spread | Philadelphia 76ers -9.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 238.5 |
- Philadelphia's fourth-ranked defense should smother a Bulls offense hitting 27.2% from three, though the Sixers' own shaky shooting caps how far they pull away.
- Watch Nic Claxton, expected to debut on small minutes, against Joel Embiid, who went 0-for-9 from the field in Friday's loss at Cleveland.
- Sixers -9.5, and the line has moved toward Philadelphia. Their games have gone 2-8 to the under, against a 238.0 total.
The softest defense in the league
Nobody has been easier to score against than Chicago. The Bulls rank last in defensive efficiency, allowing 119.8 points per 100 possessions, and the damage arrives early: opponents average 67.0 first-half points against them, also the worst mark in the NBA.
Their latest outing showed it plainly. At New York on Nov. 4, the Bulls trailed 52-84 at halftime and never recovered. Two days before that, Philadelphia handled them 126-107 in the first meeting of the season.
There is one more crack the Sixers can pry at. Philadelphia is the worst offensive rebounding team in the league, grabbing 20.8% of its own misses, but Chicago ranks 29th on the defensive glass. Sunday is a rare night when second chances should come to the Sixers.
Claxton arrives, Embiid is probable
Help is coming for Chicago, slowly. Claxton, acquired from Brooklyn in a June trade that sent Julius Randle the other way, has missed the preseason and every game so far with a left hamstring strain. The Bulls announced Friday that he would make his season debut Sunday, though the latest league report still carries him as questionable, so his status isn't fully settled. First-year coach Tiago Splitter said his minutes will be small for a few games, and he has floated double-big lineups pairing Claxton with Jalen Smith, who is probable with a sprained left finger. Zach Collins is out with an illness, and Tobe Awaka is questionable with a knee sprain.
For Philadelphia, Embiid is probable while managing plantar fasciitis in his right foot, a condition Nick Nurse has described as coming and going. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow are out, and Ariel Hukporti is done for the season after rupturing his right Achilles. That leaves little size behind Embiid. The Bulls also come in fresher, with four days of rest to Philadelphia's two.
Philadelphia still winning ugly
The Sixers are 8-2 and atop the East, and the defense has done the heavy lifting. They rank fourth in defensive efficiency but just 21st on offense, and their effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) of 50.8% sits 27th.
Friday in Cleveland exposed the creases. LeBron James scored eight points in his return to Northeast Ohio, and Embiid finished with six. Embiid is shooting 38.1% for the season, and James has played more facilitator than scorer, averaging 6.9 assists.
The scoring runs through the backcourt. Tyrese Maxey averages 26.9 points, and Jaylen Brown adds 21.6 while making 40.0% of his threes. Against a defense this porous, those two should find room.
Chicago keeps firing and missing
The Bulls' shot diet works against them. Threes make up 47.0% of their attempts, eighth-most in the league, yet they make 27.2% of them, worst in the NBA. That is a rough recipe against a Philadelphia defense holding opponents to 32.1% from deep, fifth-best.
Caleb Wilson leads Chicago in scoring but shoots 30.2% from three. The Bulls' better route is the foul line: their free throw rate ranks third, and Philadelphia ranks 20th at keeping opponents off the stripe. If Chicago keeps this close, it will likely be by attacking the rim rather than the arc.
What the number says
Philadelphia is a 9.5-point road favorite, up from 8.75 when our feed first saw the game. The total of 238.0 is steep for a Sixers team whose games have mostly stayed low, but Chicago plays at the fastest pace in the league. The first meeting finished under its closing total of 240.5.
Chicago won both meetings at the United Center last season. These Bulls are winless at home and 3-5 against the spread, while the Sixers cover more often than not.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls line movement and odds
| Book | 76ers ML | Bulls ML | 76ers spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | -425 | +320 | -9.5 (-105) | o238.5 (-115) |
| BetRivers | -420 | +310 | -9.5 (-106) | o238.5 (-109) |
| DraftKings | -423 | +331 | -9.5 (-107) | o238.5 (-115) |
| ESPN BET | -450 | +340 | -9.5 (-105) | o239.5 (-105) |
| Fanatics | -425 | +325 | -9.5 (-105) | o239 (-110) |
| FanDuel | -370 | +295 | -9.5 (-105) | o238.5 (-112) |
| Hard Rock Bet | -450 | +325 | -9.5 (+100) | o238.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | -430 | +328 | -9 (-120) | o239 (-110) |
Key players
- Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers): Averaging 26.9 points in 36.6 minutes this season.
- Jaylen Brown (Philadelphia 76ers): Scoring 21.6 points per game this season and hitting 40.0% from three.
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers): Probable with foot soreness and shooting 38.1% from the field this season.
- LeBron James (Philadelphia 76ers): Averaging 14.8 points and 6.9 assists in his first season in Philadelphia.
- Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls): Leads the Bulls with 19.5 points per game this season but shoots 30.2% from three.
- Norman Powell (Chicago Bulls): Averaging 19.2 points this season on 39.8% shooting.
- Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls): Runs the offense with 7.6 assists per game this season.
Numbers that matter
| Bulls defensive efficiency | 119.8 | Points allowed per 100 possessions, last of 30 teams. |
|---|---|---|
| Bulls 3-point % | 27.2% | Worst in the league, from a team that takes threes at the eighth-highest rate. |
| Sixers opponent 3-point % | 32.1% | Fifth-best in the NBA, a direct counter to Chicago's volume shooting. |
| Sixers over/under record | 2-8 | Philadelphia games keep landing under, while the total sits at 238.0. |
| Spread | -9.5 | Philadelphia's price has moved toward the Sixers since our feed first saw it at 8.75. |
Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls: quick answers
What was the final score of Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls?
Philadelphia 76ers 127, Chicago Bulls 121 (final). Chicago Bulls covered the closing spread (Philadelphia 76ers -9.5). The game went over the closing total of 238.5.
Who is favored in Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls?
Philadelphia 76ers is favored by 9.5 points (Philadelphia 76ers -9.5).
What is the over/under for Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls?
The total is 238.5 points.
When is Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls?
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Philadelphia 76ers vs Chicago Bulls?
Yes: Philadelphia 76ers opened -8.5 and is now -9.5, and the total moved from 239.5 to 238.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).