Bulls vs. Celtics Pick
Are the host Boston Celtics going to lose a third straight game tonight when they play the Chicago Bulls at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Celtics are a 7-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 206 points.
Chicago enters at 10-21 overall and 18-12-1 ATS after a 115-112 loss at the Cavaliers which ended a seven-game win streak. Boston is 26-9 overall and 21-12-2 ATS following a 102-93 loss at the Knicks. The Bulls won the first meeting this season by a count of 108-85 at home on Dec. 11. The Celtics are 6-4 straight up and 6-4 ATS in 10 meetings since the start of last season. The under is 7-3.
In the loss at Cleveland, Lauri Markkanen paced the Bulls with 25 points along with two rebounds and two assists. Denzel Valentine contributed with 18 points plus five rebounds and four assists. Nikola Mirotic added 15 points and five rebounds off the bench. Chicago shot 47-of-85 from the field in the defeat, but only attempted eight free throws with six makes.
Kyrie Irving tallied 32 points, four assists and three rebounds in the loss at New York. Jayson Tatum recorded 17 points, three rebounds and two steals. Al Horford accounted for 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Smart added 10 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists. Boston was outscored 34-25 in the fourth quarter.
Boston is 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings. The over is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings in Boston.
Chicago has been a different team since Mirotic returned from his facial injury, showing a confidence and deep rotation that was not evident in his absence. Even in the long to the Cavs, it was a close game right until the final possessions. Boston is in a bit of a rut right now and although it could very well notch a straight up win, I believe the Bulls keep it close enough to cover the spread.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO BULLS +7