The Boston Celtics will be looking for their second ATS victory of the season over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night as those Eastern Conference teams hit the hardwood at the United Center.
Boston picked up a 101-95 win over Chicago as a 3-point road underdog when those teams met for the first time this season back on November 12. That was the third OVER result for totals bettors in the past four meetings between the Celtics and the Bulls.
The Celtics will look to vanquish their hosts on Tuesday, as they are 8-12-3 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Bulls are 8-15 ATS. Boston is 12-10-1 against the total, while Chicago is 7-16 versus the number. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news).
View Boston vs Chicago Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The visitors opened this morning as 1.5-point underdogs in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark (including Sportsbook), while the total was hovering around 184 at Sportsbook and other shops.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game matches up the No. 7 (Bulls) and the No. 19 (Celtics) teams in the league, according to our current NBA Power Rankings at Odds Shark. A 97-94 result in favor of the Bulls is predicted by handicapping models.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Chicago's No. 27-ranked offense, averaging 92.5 PPG, against a Celtics defense that ranks No. 16 at 97.9 PPG. The Bulls field goal percentage has averaged 43.9% so far, less than the Celtics shooters have achieved on the year, 46.9% per game.
Defensively, the Celtics feature the league's No. 16-rated defense on the road, giving up 99.8 points per game. Chicago, meanwhile, comes in at No. 29 in the league in scoring at home.
Boston lost its last outing, a 103-88 result against the Spurs on December 15. The Celtics failed to cover in that game as a 9-point underdog, while the 191 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Boston suffered a 103-88 loss against San Antonio on Saturday, getting 18 points from Paul Pierce in a losing effort at AT&T Center.
The Bulls were an 80-71 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Grizzlies. They failed to cover the 6.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (151) made winners of UNDER bettors. Chicago got 16 points from Carlos Boozer but lost anyway 80-71 against the Grizzlies on Monday at FedExForum.
Boston Celtics Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Cleveland are 6-4
After playing San Antonio are 7-3
After a loss are 7-3
Chicago Bulls Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing New York are 7-3
After playing Memphis are 6-4
After a loss are 8-2
A few Celtics at Bulls trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games on the road
Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Chicago's last 13 games
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Chicago is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Next up:
Boston home to Cleveland, Wednesday, December 19
Chicago at New York, Friday, December 21
