The Chicago Bulls (27-13) visit Beantown Saturday to play the Boston Celtics (21-22) at the TD Garden. The tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bulls vs. Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Both teams played last night (Friday) as Chicago got pummeled by the Golden State Warriors 138-96 for a second straight loss, and Boston was defeated 111-99 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Over the past two weeks, the Bulls are 4-3 straight-up (SU), 2-5 ATS and 4-3 O/U with the 22nd-ranked adjusted net rating at a minus-5.7, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
In the last 14 days, the Celtics are 4-3 SU, 2-5 ATS and 4-3 O/U with the 10th-best adjusted net rating at a plus-4.0, per CTG.
The Bulls (+3) upset the Celtics 128-114 in Boston in their first meeting this season, Nov. 1.
Bulls at Celtics odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Celtics -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bulls +5.5 (-105) | Celtics -5.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Bulls at Celtics key injuries
Bulls
- PG Lonzo Ball (knee) questionable
- SG Zach LaVine (knee) out
- SG Alex Caruso (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) out
- SG Javonte Green (hip) out
Celtics
- PG Marcus Smart (health and safety protocols) out
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Bulls at Celtics odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 109, Bulls 97
Money line
PASS since I cannot back the Bulls (+190) with their injury report, and the Celtics (-240) is way out of my price range for a regular-season favorite.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the CELTICS -5.5 (-120) for a half-unit because of Chicago’s injury report, and Boston should’ve won the first meeting between these two.
The Celtics outscored the Bulls in each of the first three quarters in their Nov. 1 meeting, but Chicago stole the game, in Boston, with a 39-11 fourth quarter.
That kind of loss sticks with a team and should motivate the Celtics even against a banged-up Bulls side.
Furthermore, the Celtics are 13-7-1 ATS versus teams with a winning record and match up even better against the Bulls with no LaVine in the lineup.
For instance, Chicago is going to play through SF DeMar DeRozan, who likes to isolate and operate in the midrange.
DeRozan erupted for a game-high 37 points on 75.0% shooting (FG%) in the first Bulls-Celtics meeting.
But, Boston gets to focus more of its defensive bandwidth on DeRozan with LaVine out of the lineup.
Also, Boston’s defense ranks second in efficiency versus iso-ball and sixth in defensive FG% versus mid-range jumpers (CTG).
However, I can only “LEAN” to the CELTICS -5.5 (-120) because technically this isn’t a good spot for them.
Boston is 7-11 ATS as a home favorite with a minus-4.1 ATS margin and 1-6 ATS in the last seven games as a favorite.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 216.5 (-115) because Chicago is 1-7 O/U as a road underdog with a minus-6.0 total margin, Boston is 7-11 O/U as a home favorite with a minus-4.1 total margin and the Under has cashed in four of the last five Bulls-Celtics meetings.
On top of that, Chicago’s offense will be less effective without LaVine, and it could be in serious trouble if Ball misses Saturday. Boston ranks 22nd in offensive rating this month, but fourth in defensive rating.
The UNDER 216.5 (-115) is my favorite wager in the Bulls-Celtics game.
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