NBA Betting Odds and Picks: Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets

Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
Thursday, 4/4/13, 7:00 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Brooklyn -5
Current Betting Line: Brooklyn -5
Opening Total: 186.5
Current Total: 188
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Chicago Bulls are 6-4 ATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points this season

Chicago has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it looks to bounce back from a 90-86 setback to the Washington Wizards as 2.5-point road underdogs Tuesday, while going UNDER the posted total of 187.5. The Bulls are suffering through numerous injuries, which includes forward Taj Gibson re-aggravating a left knee injury. “We’ve got to hang together and find some healthy bodies,” commented Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich. Chicago is 6-4 ATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points this season, with the OVER going 7-3 in that situation.

The Bulls are 19-17 overall when playing away from the United Center, including a 14-7 mark versus Eastern Conference foes. Chicago dropped its first game ever at the Barclays Center, as it suffered a 93-89 defeat as five-point underdogs on Feb. 1, while going OVER the posted total of 180.5. Forward Carlos Boozer will need to lead the team offensively, averaging 18.4 points on 53.6 percent shooting in his last seven games, while also grabbing 11.4 rebounds over that span.

Brooklyn snapped a two-game losing streak last time out, as it picked up a 113-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers as five-point road favorites, while going OVER the total for the ninth time in 10 contests. The Nets finished with a 5-3 record over their longest road trip of the 2012-13 NBA season, but they could be without the services of guard Joe Johnson and forward Gerald Wallace in this affair. Brooklyn is 5-7 ATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 6 points this season, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread Thursday.

The Nets will be led by point guard Deron Williams on the offensive end, as he’s averaging 18.4 points and 7.7 assists per game, while center Brook Lopez is contributing 19.1 points. Brooklyn is 22-14 overall at home this season, including a 16-5 mark versus conference rivals. Offensively, the team set a season-high in assists with 31 against the Cavaliers, which led to 66 first-half points.