In the second of two NBA Eastern Conference play-in tournament matchups on Wednesday night, the No. 10-seeded Atlanta Hawks travel to the Windy City to take on the No. 9-seed Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The winner will move on to play the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat on Friday evening.
Let's put together a same-game parlay and win some money.
(Related Link) Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Play-In Tournament: Betting Odds, Preview
HAWKS or BULLS... Who ya got?!
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) April 17, 2024
Watch TONIGHT at 9:30 PM/ET on Sportsnet.
The winner of this game will play a second game (against the losing team between the 76ers & Heat) for a chance to secure the 8-seed in the East. The Play-In Tournament is presented by @HisenseCA. pic.twitter.com/q8wMHFdjDR
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks Same-Game Parlay (April 17, 2024)
Matchup Page: Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks, 9:30 p.m. ET
| Bet | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls ATS -3 | -114 |
| DeMar DeRozan OVER 28.5 Points | -120 |
| Trae Young OVER 2.5 Made 3-Pointers | -162 |
| Overall | +374 |
Same-Game Parlay Pick No. 1: Chicago Bulls ATS -3
It's taking the lesser of two evils here, as both the Bulls and Hawks aren't exactly playing inspired basketball lately. Perhaps it's because the play-in tournament had been inevitable for the two sides for quite some time, but even with that being true, no team should ever want to limp their way into a win-or-go-home situation without at least feeling a little bit good about themselves.
There's no chance Atlanta currently does, having lost six-straight games to close out the season. Listed as a three-point underdog on the road Wednesday, the Hawks were just 3-15 SU in 2023-24 under that criteria and 5-13 ATS, with five of those last six games being failed attempts to cover.
Dealing with injuries to fourth-leading scorer Jalen Johnson on the wing and not having Onyeka Okongwu to backup Clint Capela in the middle will sting. The Bulls aren't world beaters, but they do have the home-court edge and aren't struggling nearly as mightily as Atlanta is.
Same-Game Parlay Pick No. 2: DeMar DeRozan OVER 28.5 Points
With little offensive talent around him to soak up looks, the green light is on for DeMar DeRozan to shoot to his heart's content. He ranked fourth in the league in points over the last five games of the season averaging 33.3 on 55.6 percent shooting from the field and 53.8 percent from 3-point range with 1.8 conversions.
DeRozan toppled Wednesday's OVER/UNDER of 28.5 points in five of his last six appearances and six of his last eight, with one of the two times he failed in doing so still being a 27-point effort. That doesn't help bettors, mind you, but he did come awfully close.
The 34-year-old veteran's two most recent outings against Atlanta came with 31 and 29 points, respectively, and considering Chicago's primary weapons outside of him are only plodding big man Nikola Vucevic and Most Improved Player candidate Coby White, there's a good chance a similar line is in store for the Hawks once again.
Same-Game Parlay Pick No. 3: Trae Young OVER 2.5 Made 3-Pointers
After seeing his playing time restricted following a 23-game absence due to a torn ligament in his pinkie finger, gunslinger Trae Young is optimistic he'll see a normal allotment of minutes against the Bulls.
Young has exceeded 30 minutes of playing time once in his three games back in the lineup, but he's still made six total 3-pointers during that stretch at a crisp 46.1 percent rate.
A 3-of-7 shooting night from deep against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 12 was the one time Young hit the OVER on 2.5 made 3-pointers, though. However, if his minutes are going to even out against Chicago, like his opposition in DeRozan, Young should have free reign to let it loose from behind the arc and nail three or more 3-pointers, which he accomplished back on Boxing Day against the Bulls.
