Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls Betting Odds


Opening Betting Lines: Celtics +6 / Bulls -6 Over/Under 196

Time: 8 PM EST Tuesday April 13, 2010 on TNT

Tonight in an Eastern Conference match up that is vital for the home team and meaningless for the away team the Chicago Bulls host the Boston Celtics. The Bulls really need to win this game, as they hold the 8th and final playoff spot in the East and if they lose this game they will be tied with the Toronto Raptors. That is not good for the Bulls, as Toronto holds the tiebreaker against Chicago.

The Celtics will be the 4th seed in the playoffs and will likely host Miami in the 1st round of the playoffs. Boston could not move past Atlanta for the 3rd spot so if they get past Miami they will probably play King James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 2nd round playoff series.

The Celtics are coming off a win and are 5-5 in their last 10 games and the Bulls are also coming off a win and are 6-4 in their last 10 games.

This season the Bulls are 23-17 at home and 40-38-2 ATS and the Celtics are 26-14 on the road and 32-46-2 ATS.

In their last games the Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors 104-88 on Sunday and the Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-90.

Kevin Garnett (14.4 ppg) sat out the Celtics’ last game and the last game against the Bulls, which they lost, but when he is in the lineup he has yet to lose to the Bulls in a Boston uniform (8-0). Garnett may get the night off again, as this game does not mean anything, in terms of the standings, to Boston.

The Bulls lack much inside presence and are not a high scoring team, so Derrick Rose (20.4 ppg) and Luol Deng (17.8 ppg) have to play well and Chicago needs to play good team defense,

Rose has to stay in front of Celtics’ PG Rajon Rondo (13.7 ppg 9.8 assists per game) and not let him penetrate or dish out to the shooters of Paul Pierce (18.1 ppg) and Ray Allen (16.2 ppg).

Bulls’ C Joakim Noah (10.6 ppg 10.9 rpg) blew up for 18 points, 19 boards, and 7 assists in Chicago’s last game and the Celtics need to keep him off the glass, especially on the offensive end of the court.

Even though the Celtics’ playoff seed is set do not look for them to let down, as they want to head into the post-season with some momentum.

Betting Trends

Boston is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games against teams with a winning home record, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a win, and has an Over record of 6-1 in their last 7 games.

Chicago is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games against teams with a winning road record, 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, and has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 home games.

In the last 4 games between these 2 teams in Chicago Boston is 3-0-1 ATS

Our Selection : A must win game for the Bulls, but Kevin Garnett is likely to play after sitting out Saturday's game versus the Bucks. The Bulls did win the last match up, so I don't expect the Celtics to lay down here. Bet on Boston plus the 6 points at Sportsbook.com. Take the Celtics +5.5 points.


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