Bulls visit Bucks for Friday matchup after opening losses
The Chicago Bulls visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum for a late-afternoon tipoff on Friday, with the Bucks installed as 1.5-point favorites and the over/under set at 239.5 points, cbssports.com reported. Both teams enter the matchup searching for their first win of the young NBA season after opening-night losses.
Why are the Bulls and Bucks both seeking their first win on Friday?
Chicago opened its campaign with a lopsided 135-92 defeat on the road against Toronto on Wednesday. The Bulls finished fourth in the Central Division last year with a 31-51 record and have struggled away from home, posting a 13-29 road mark since the start of last season. Meanwhile, Milwaukee dropped a 128-116 decision to Washington on Wednesday night. The Bucks finished third in the division at 32-50 during the 2025-26 campaign while going 19-22 on their home court.
What has changed for Milwaukee following the offseason roster shakeup?
Friday marks Milwaukee’s first home game since the franchise traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat during the offseason. The revamped roster now features Tyler Herro, acquired from Miami, who paced the Bucks with 24 points, nine assists, and two rebounds in their season opener.
How does the SportsLine projection model view the matchup totals and spread?
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, entering the 2026-27 season after going 26-10 on top-rated spread picks at NBA betting sites last year. For Friday’s matchup, the model projects 241 combined points, pushing the Over to hit 54% of the time. Historical trends support the projection, as the Over has hit in each of Chicago’s last two games, eight of the last 10 Milwaukee contests, and three of the last five head-to-head meetings played in Milwaukee. The model also indicates that one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time.
What time does the game start and how can fans watch?
Tipoff from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Friday. The unusual late-afternoon start time accommodates the World Series unfolding in Milwaukee concurrently. Fans can stream the game live via Fubo.