The Boston Celtics (9-6) visit the Windy City Monday for a 9 p.m. ET game with the Chicago Bulls (7-9) at United Center. Below, we analyze the Celtics-Bulls NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Boston has struggled without All-Star SF Jayson Tatum in the lineup and is just 2-3 straight up and against the spread in the five games he has missed. The Celtics have two blowout wins by 27 or more points to bracket a three-game losing skid. The worst of the losses was a 30-point smacking at the hands of the New York Knicks on homecourt.
The Bulls have been trending in the opposite direction recently and are 3-2 overall and ATS in their last five games. They almost snuck in the backdoor to cover as 9.5-point underdogs in a 101-90 loss at home against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday.
Chicago had won three straight games and lost the previous four games by 4 or fewer points. The Bulls have been making bettors money lately, covering the spread in eight of their last 10 games.
That being said, the Celtics-Bulls’ recent history has been one-sided with Boston winning and covering in eight of the last 10 meetings with Chicago.
Celtics at Bulls: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:40 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Bulls +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
- Against the spread/ATS: Celtics -4.5 (-110) | Bulls +4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 228.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Celtics at Bulls: Key Injuries
Celtics
- PG Kemba Walker (rest) out
- PG Payton Pritchard (knee) out
Bulls
- C Wendell Carter Jr. (quadriceps) out
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Celtics at Bulls: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Celtics 113, Bulls 111
Money line (ML)
PASS with a lean on the Bulls (+145) since I plan to take Chicago to cover the spread. The problem with betting the Bulls to win outright is how late we’d be to the party.
According to Pregame.com, this game opened with Chicago at +215 on the money line but the market is barreling into the Bulls. The market action is based mostly on how good of a bet the Bulls have been the past few weeks.
Against the spread (ATS)
In their five games without Tatum in the lineup, the Celtics weren’t much less efficient in terms of net rating. They’re ranked seventh for the season and were 11th in five games without Tatum, but Chicago has played increasingly well over that same time span.
The Bulls are right behind Boston in net rating over their last five games whereas they were 24th in net rating prior. Furthermore, Chicago is shooting the ball well and doing a great job on the boards since Jan. 15, ranking fourth in rebounding percentage and sixth in effective field-goal percentage).
While the return of Tatum will surely be the biggest story Monday, that information is already baked into the line. I lean BULLS +4.5 (-110) for a half-unit only because, like the money line market, we are getting here a little late.
Over/Under (O/U)
Chicago’s defense has been really good over its past five games: The Bulls are sixth in defensive rating and second in opponent’s 3-point percentage in that time span.
Also, perhaps we’re getting some value on the Under since Boston scored 141 points yesterday and Chicago has scored 117 or more points in five of its last six games.
GIMME UNDER 228.5 (-110) for a quarter-unit.
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Also see:
- Jaylen Brown stats snapshot: 33 points in record time vs. Cavs (Celtics Wire)
- Hoops Hype rumors: Celtics | Bulls
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