Predictions, Props & How to Watch Bulls vs Cavs (Jul 17)

• The Cleveland Cavaliers are -150 moneyline favorites vs the Chicago Bulls in Summer League action
• Rookie sensation Caleb Wilson will not suit up for the Bulls
• Read below for my Bulls vs Cavaliers picks, props, as well as updated odds

It’s the Summer League finale for both the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, who will clash one Friday to close it out.

Both teams finished with 1-2 records, with their prized rookies leaving the Dessert unscathed, as both Bulls wing Caleb Wilson and Cleveland standout Meleek Thomas will sit out the last game.

Without Wilson as the centerpiece to the Bulls’ engine, the books like the Cavaliers in the NBA odds.

Read below for updated odds, as well as my picks, player props and how to watch Bulls vs Cavaliers.

Bulls vs Cavaliers Odds

The Cavaliers are the betting favorite, getting -150 odds at bet365 to win, while the Bulls get +125 odds to win outright.

Chicago is getting 2.5 points on the spread, which pay out at -105 odds, while Cleveland is getting -115 odds.

The total is set for 185.5 points.

Bulls vs Cavaliers Expert Predictions

• UNDER 185.5 points (-115 at bet365)

The brightest news for the Bulls is they may have a star to take them out of the NBA’s hinterland in Wilson, who is an instant top bet in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds. But they may have discovered another budding star in Jaylin Sellers.

The undrafted wing played five years at Providence, but it might just be that maturity that has him a plug and play piece right from the jump.

He lit up the Wizards for 24 points in a 99-87 win, shooting a crisp 7-for-12 from the field. He’s averaged 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists, and will be the key cog for the Bulls Friday.

Undrafted rook Tobe Awake struggled out of the gate, scoring two total points in his first two games, but he’s been solid since, scoring 10+ points in back-to-back games.

Cleveland’s biggest revelation was the star power from second-round pick Meleek Thomas, who lit up Summer League scoring 28.3 points per game (1st), on 50% shooting from the field and a crisp 45.8% on 3-pointers.

There’s still some top end talent on the floor in his absence, with Malaki Branham from the 2022 draft class showing out. He’s scored in double digits in every game, punctuated with his 23-point effort in a win over New Orleans.

It’s expected third-year man Nae’Qwan Tomlin will play after sitting out the last two games. He’s been stellar in his two appearances, dropping 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting against Indiana, and 17 points on 7-for-10 from the field against Detroit.

While they’ll all be impactful, both teams are less effective with Wilson and Thomas not on the court, which is why I’m leaning to the Under.

Chicago has cashed the Under in three straight games, while the Cavs’ offense has really tailed off in the last two games, averaging just 86 points per game.

CHI Bulls vs CLE Cavaliers Player-Prop Picks

Malaki Branham 2+ 3-point makes (-112 at bet365): Branham is coming off his most productive game from beyond the arc in Cleveland’s win vs the Pelicans, knocking down a pair of triples. He has hit at least one in all four games. But this guy has prven range: he shot it at 37.8% last year with the Wizards.

Tobe Awaka 15+ points (+290 at bet365): We know that Jayin Sellers will probably be the one to gain top billing for the Bulls, but there should be plenty of shots to go around, leaving the door open for Tobe Awake to potentially close Summer League with his best scoring game. He scored 12 points against the Lakers and 14 points against the Wizards, and didn’t attempt more than eight field goals in either. Even a slight bump up could make for a nice prop win.

How to Watch Bulls vs Cavaliers

Tip-off is at 7pm ET from the Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, NV.

The Bulls vs Cavaliers will be available nationally on ESPN, while Bulls fans can also catch game action live on the Chicago Sports Network.