New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 10/31/25, 4:39 PM  by Erik Gibbs in NBA Picks

The New York Knicks head to the Windy City on Friday night to take on the red-hot Chicago Bulls at the United Center in what should be an intriguing early-season showdown. Both teams are off to promising starts, but they’ve done so in different ways. The Knicks have been leaning heavily on their defensive structure under first-year head coach Mike Brown, while the Bulls have built their unbeaten 4-0 record behind balanced scoring and improved defensive consistency.

New York comes into this matchup looking to bounce back after a frustrating 121-111 road loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. The Knicks started strong but fell apart in the second half, getting outscored by 22 points as defensive lapses and turnovers piled up. Despite the loss, the Knicks still rank ninth in the league in defensive efficiency—a promising sign for a team that hasn’t won an NBA Championship since 1973. Offensively, Jalen Brunson continues to lead the charge, while RJ Barrett and Julius Randle will need to find more rhythm if New York hopes to stay competitive on the road.

The Bulls, on the other hand, are flying high under veteran coach Billy Donovan. They extended their perfect start with a commanding 126-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, pulling away thanks to a dominant third quarter where they outscored the Kings by 12. Chicago’s defense has been a major factor in their success so far, holding opponents to just 111.3 points per game. Nikola Vucevic has been a steady force in the paint, while Josh Giddey’s playmaking and tempo control have given the offense a smooth rhythm.