Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
Sunday, 2/12/12, 3:30 PM EST, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -3.5
Current Betting Line: Chicago -3
Opening Total: 176
Current Total: 173.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Chicago has won three straight games in its series with Boston and comes in enjoying a five-game win streak, which includes a convincing 95-64 win over the Charlotte Bobcats as 13.5-point road favorites. The Bulls will be making a game-time decision in playing point guard Derrick Rose, who has been suffering from back spasms. “When I wake up, I usually can tell,” commented Rose on the situation. The franchise has been rolling of late, becoming the first team in league history to win four consecutive road games by 20 or more points. Chicago is 13-6 ATS on the road this season.
The Bulls can be tremendous on the defensive end, holding six opponents to under 70 points already this season. Chicago has captured 17 of its 23 wins by 10 points or more this season, leading the NBA in outscoring opponents by 10.4 points per game. Defensively, the team is third in the league in allowing just 86.9 points per game, posting an 11-0 mark this year when surrendering 85 points or less. Small forward Luol Deng may need to step up his offensive production if Rose is unable to go, averaging 15.3 points in this last four games after missing the previous seven contests with a wrist injury.
Boston has managed to score just 161 combined points in dropping consecutive games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors. The Celtics have won 1-4 ATS in their last five games. “We just didn’t show the mental toughness,” stated Celtics forward Paul Pierce about the loss to the Raptors. “These are games we’re suppose to win.” He will be making his 10th appearance in the All-Star Game. Boston is 7-10 ATS at home this season and the “under” is 12-4 in those contests.
The Celtics recent two-game losing streak has certainly come at an interesting time, directly following a spurt of winning nine of 10 games. Boston is 10-7 at home this season and has tallied a 9-3 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents inside the TD Garden. The team dropped an 88-79 decision in the first meeting this season as one-point home underdogs, while the “under” has cashed in three straight meetings.
Bettors will likely back the Celtics due to their 12-5-1 ATS mark as home underdogs of 4.5 points or less, while the Bulls are 2-6 ATS as a favorite in the same point range.
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