NBA Playoffs 2013: Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets, Game 7 Picks

Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
Saturday, 5/4/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Brooklyn -7
Current Betting Line: Brooklyn -7
Opening Total: 183
Current Total: 181.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Chicago Bulls are 2-7 SU as road underdogs of 6.5 to 12 points this season

Chicago is certainly up against it after losing back-to-back games, including a 95-92 setback as one-point home underdogs Thursday night, while going OVER the total for a third consecutive contest. The Bulls are 0-6 all time when playing a Game 7 on the road, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread Saturday night. “It’s going to be a fight,” commented Bulls guard Jimmy Butler. “The tougher team is going to get the win.” Chicago is 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS as road underdogs of 6.5 to 12 points this season, with the UNDER going 6-3 in that situation.

The Bulls are being led by point guard Nate Robinson and forward Carlos Boozer on the offensive end, as their averaging 17.8 and 17.5 points per game respectively, as they prepare to play without Luol Deng and Derrick Rose. Chicago is averaging 98.2 points per game in this series, but is allowing 101.6 due to Brooklyn knocking down 45.1 percent of its shots. Defensively, the team ranked third in the league during the regular season in surrendering 92.9 points per game.

Brooklyn has won and covered the spread in the last two games of this best-of-seven series, as it now looks to become just the ninth team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit. “The reward for the way we played in the regular season is that this Game 7 in the first round is in our building,” stated Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo. The home team is 4-1 in Game 7’s played between four and five seeds in the NBA playoff history. Brooklyn is 6-6-1 ATS as home favorites of 6.5 to 9 points, which is important to consider when looking over the NBA betting lines.

The Nets have all five probable starters averaging in double figures during this series, with center Brook Lopez leading the way, scoring 22.5 points and grabbing 7.2 rebounds per game. Brooklyn finished the regular season with a solid 26-15 record at the Barclays Center, including a 20-6 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents.