NBA Playoff Picks: Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls, Game 6

Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls
Thursday, 5/2/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -2
Current Betting Line: Chicago PK
Opening Total: 183
Current Total: 184
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Chicago Bulls are 5-1 SUATS as home favorites of three points or less

Brooklyn snapped a three-game losing streak in this series with a 110-91 victory over Chicago as 6.5-point home favorites in Game 5 Monday, while going OVER the total for a second consecutive contest. “I think we’ve been confident throughout the whole series regardless of whether they were up 3-1,” commented Nets guard Joe Johnson. The Nets need to win this game to force a seventh and deciding game at the Barclays Center, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks against the spread. Brooklyn is 5-2 ATS on the road when the total is between 180 and 184.5, with the OVER going 4-3 in that situation.

The Nets are certainly up against it historically, considering the Bulls have compiled a 13-1 series record in the NBA playoffs when holding a 3-2 lead, which is hard to ignore when looking over the pro basketball odds page. Brooklyn only averaged 87.5 points in four regular season meetings with Chicago, but has upped its production to 101.6 during the postseason.

Chicago has four probable starters averaging in double figures offensively, with forward Carlos Boozer leading the way in scoring 18.2 points and grabbing 10.8 rebounds per game, while Nate Robinson is contributing 17.8 in filling in for Kirk Hinrich. The Bulls have been doing their best to deal with a laundry list of injuries, which includes starting point guard Derrick Rose of course, who has missed the entire 2012-13 season. “We’re not going to rush him back,” stated Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Chicago is 5-1 SUATS as home favorites of three points or less this season.

The Bulls and Nets each shot above 49 percent in both Games 4 and 5, which has happened only four times since the 1991-92 postseason. Chicago definitely knows that only eight teams have ever blown a 3-1 advantage in a best-of-seven series, as it looks to close things out at the United Center. The franchise is looking to move its record to 8-21 in all series when not possessing home-court advantage.