Bulls vs Trail Blazers Prediction Game Today February 26: Another Winnable Game We Better Not Blow

February 26, 2026 | United Center | 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago

The Chicago Bulls (24–33) host the Portland Trail Blazers (19–37) tonight, and this is exactly the kind of game we’ve been blowing all season. Portland’s worse than us. They’re 13th in the West. They’re young, inconsistent, and giving up 118.9 points per game.

We’re 12th in the East, giving up 120.4 points per game, and still somehow clinging to faint play-in hopes that are basically dead at this point.

But you know what? We just beat Charlotte. We finally protected home court against a bad team. Now we need to do it again against Portland. No excuses. No moral victories. Just beat a team we’re supposed to beat.

For Bulls fans who’ve watched us lose winnable games all year, tonight’s our chance to prove we can actually be consistent.

Where the Bulls Stand (Still Not Good)

Record: 24–33 (12th in East)

We’re nine games under .500, and the play-in race is basically over. The season’s slipping away, and at this point we’re playing to finish above .400 and not completely embarrass ourselves.

What’s Working:

• We’re 3rd in the East in three-point shooting (14.6 made per game)
• Ball movement is solid (29.1 assists per game)
• DeMar DeRozan is still automatic from mid-range

What’s Not Working:

• Defense is terrible (120.4 points allowed per game, worst in the league)
• Rebounding is a problem (42.1 per game vs Portland’s 44.5)
• Consistency—we’ll look competent one night, fall apart the next

DeMar DeRozan, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton can all get buckets. But if we’re giving up 120 points every night, it doesn’t matter how much we score.

Against Portland’s bad defense (118.9 points allowed), we should put up numbers. The question is whether we can actually get stops when it matters.

The Portland Trail Blazers: Young, Scrappy, and Still Losing

Record: 19–37 (13th in West)

Portland is bad, but they’re interesting-bad. Scoot Henderson is a dynamic young point guard with speed and athleticism. Shaedon Sharpe can score in bunches. Deandre Ayton provides rim protection and rebounding when he’s engaged.

Key Players:

• Scoot Henderson (PG): Fast, aggressive playmaker who can get to the rim
• Shaedon Sharpe (SG): Athletic scorer with three-level offensive game
• Deandre Ayton (C): Rim-running center who blocks shots and finishes lobs

The Blazers play fast, rely on transition offense, and live or die by Henderson’s ability to create. When he’s rolling, they’re dangerous. When he’s off, they get blown out.

Sound familiar? That’s basically us with DeMar.

Breaking Down the Matchup

We score more. We pass better. We shoot more threes. They rebound better and defend slightly less terribly. But both teams are bad defensively, so this is going to be a shootout.

The rebounding gap is concerning. Deandre Ayton could dominate the glass if we’re not physical. We can’t let him get easy putbacks and second-chance points.

What the Bulls Need to Do to Win

DeMar DeRozan Controls the Tempo
This is a game DeMar should dominate. Portland doesn’t have anyone who can consistently stop his mid-range game. He needs 25+ points on efficient shooting, and he needs to control the game when things get chaotic.

Hit Threes Early and Often
We shoot 14.6 threes per game compared to their 12.4. That’s our advantage. If Simons, Sexton, and our shooters can knock down 15+ threes, we pull away. If we go cold, Portland can steal this.

Limit Scoot Henderson’s Playmaking
Henderson’s going to be fast and aggressive. He’ll get to the rim, throw ridiculous passes, and make you shake your head. But if we can force him into tough shots and limit his assists, we control the game. Make someone else beat us.

Anfernee Simons Needs to Show Up
Simons has the talent to drop 30 on any given night. Against Portland’s weak perimeter defense, this is his chance to have another big game at home. Get hot early and force Portland to adjust.

Win the Rebounding Battle
Deandre Ayton is a problem on the glass. If he’s getting offensive rebounds and extending possessions, we’re in trouble. Box out, crash the boards, and don’t let them get easy second-chance points.

What Portland Will Bring

Scoot Henderson will be fast, aggressive, and making highlight plays. Shaedon Sharpe will get his shots and probably hit a couple tough ones. Deandre Ayton will finish lobs and protect the rim.

But the Blazers are 19–37 for a reason. They’re young, inconsistent, and prone to defensive breakdowns. If we execute and take care of the ball, we should win comfortably.

The question is whether we’ll actually do that.

The Betting Lines (We’re Actually Favored Again)

• Spread: Bulls -5.5
• Over/Under: 236.0
• Moneyline: Bulls -200, Blazers +170

We’re 5.5-point favorites at home, which feels right. Portland’s worse than us, but they’re scrappy and Henderson can take over games. The over/under at 236.0 is basically Vegas saying “both defenses are terrible, expect a track meet.”

We’ve covered in 3 of our last 5 games. Portland is 2–8 in their last 10. This is a game we should win, which makes it even more frustrating if we don’t.

Bulls Fan Prediction: We Win, But It’s Closer Than It Should Be

Final Score: Bulls 118, Blazers 111

DeMar DeRozan controls the game with 27 points on efficient mid-range shooting. Anfernee Simons gets hot in the second quarter and drops 24. Collin Sexton provides 16 off the bench with smart playmaking.

Scoot Henderson goes off for 28 with crazy assists and drives to the rim, but we hit our shots and stay ahead. Shaedon Sharpe keeps Portland close with some tough buckets, but our offensive firepower is too much.

It’s not pretty. Both teams will give up 110+. But we execute down the stretch, knock down free throws, and protect home court against another team we’re supposed to beat.

Seven-point win feels right. Close enough to keep it interesting, comfortable enough that we’re never really in danger.

Why This Game Actually Matters

We’re 12th in the East. The play-in is basically gone. The season’s essentially over in terms of realistic playoff hopes.

So why does tonight matter?

Because we need to beat teams we’re supposed to beat. We just handled Charlotte at home. Now we need to do it again against Portland. If we can’t protect home court against bad teams, what’s the point?

The Blazers are 19–37. They’re rebuilding. They’re young and inconsistent. If we lose to them at the United Center, it’s embarrassing. And for a fanbase that’s endured so much mediocrity, another embarrassing home loss would be brutal.

Plus, Scoot Henderson is fun to watch. Even if we win, he’s going to do something ridiculous that makes you go “damn, this kid’s got it.” But we need to make sure his highlights don’t come in a Blazers victory.

See Red. Let’s protect home court again.

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