Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks and Predictions for Monday, November 2, 2026

Chicago has lost four straight, and Friday's 125-111 defeat in Boston left the Bulls at 1-5, fourth in the Central Division. Philadelphia keeps winning despite three close games. The 76ers edged Charlotte 109-104 Saturday, improving to 6-1 and first in the Atlantic Division. Chicago has conceded at least 124 points in five straight. Monday's game is at Xfinity Mobile Arena, where Philadelphia is 3-1. Tipoff is at 7:30 pm ET on NBA League Pass. Check our free NBA picks for Monday.

Chicago Bulls Cannot Keep Trading Baskets

Chicago fared better in Boston on Friday than it had earlier in the week. The 125-111 loss followed Monday's 134-99 beating by the Celtics, a game in which Chicago barely threatened. New York also escaped Chicago with a 133-127 win. Washington also won a tight one, 124-120. Chicago can score, but opponents keep finding better shots. Chicago's only victory came at Milwaukee on October 23, when the Bulls scored 132 points. They haven't managed to finish a game on top since.

Caleb Wilson leads Chicago with 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Norman Powell is right behind him at 20.7 points, giving the Bulls another scorer. Josh Giddey handles much of the passing, averaging 7.5 assists, while Jalen Smith pulls down 8.8 rebounds. Chicago is shooting just 42.1% overall. That's hard to overcome against Philadelphia's much tougher defense. Smith will also have his hands full battling for rebounds if Embiid plays.

Injuries: Nic Claxton is out. Dailyn Swain is questionable.

Philadelphia 76ers Winning Without Huge Scores

Charlotte made Philadelphia work Saturday. The 76ers escaped with a 109-104 win. A night earlier, Philadelphia had beaten New York 98-93. The winning streak started Wednesday at Indiana, where the 76ers survived 114-109. Those results followed a 106-93 home loss to Detroit, their only defeat so far. Philadelphia hasn't been lighting up scoreboards lately, yet late baskets have been enough. It's a change from the 127 points the 76ers put up against Milwaukee earlier in the season.

Tyrese Maxey has been carrying the largest scoring load at 28.2 points per game. Jaylen Brown adds 20.6, and Joel Embiid has contributed 19.2 points along with 9.4 rebounds. LeBron James is doing more of the distributing, averaging seven assists while scoring 16.4. Embiid and James are both questionable for Monday. Philadelphia is allowing only 104.9 points per game, a sharp contrast with Chicago's defensive results. That difference is hard to ignore, especially after Chicago surrendered 133 points to New York.

Injuries: Joel Embiid and LeBron James are questionable. Dominick Barlow is out, and Ariel Hukporti is out for the season.

Key To The Game

The Bulls have scored 120 or more in two of their last four losses, but the defense has given them little margin for error. Philadelphia presents a different challenge from Boston or New York: the 76ers have held their last three opponents to 109 points or fewer. Wilson and Powell need to create good looks without forcing shots. At the other end, Maxey's quickness could punish Chicago's defensive breakdowns. The Bulls also need Giddey to limit mistakes when Philadelphia pressures the ball.

Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers Game Pick

• Philadelphia 76ers

Chicago has talent on offense, particularly with Wilson and Powell, but the Bulls haven't shown they can stop opponents consistently. Philadelphia is taking the opposite route, winning close games through defense and timely scoring. Maxey gives the 76ers a reliable first option, even with Embiid and James carrying questionable designations. Chicago's four-game losing streak includes two rough nights against Boston, and another difficult road matchup awaits. I expect Philadelphia to control enough possessions to earn its seventh win. The 76ers are my pick.

Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers Over/Under Pick

• Under

Chicago's defense makes an over tempting, but Philadelphia has played three straight games that finished with 223 points or fewer. The 76ers have also held New York to 93 and Charlotte to 104 in their two most recent wins. Chicago's shooting has been shaky, and the Bulls managed just 99 points in their earlier visit to Boston. Maxey can produce a big night, but Philadelphia doesn't need a frantic pace to beat this opponent. I'm expecting a more controlled game than Chicago's recent shootouts. Under is my pick.