Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Free NBA Picks - Betting Lines

Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Free NBA Picks - Betting Lines

Cliff Knox
Date: April 18, 8:00 pm
Location: TD Garden
TV: ESPN

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Celtics -7
Total: 206

<p>
The Boston Celtics (51-31) host the Chicago Bulls (42-40) I Game 2 of an Eastern Conference playoff series that will take place at the TD Garden In Boston, MA at 8 PM ET. The Celtics are a 7-point home favorite in this game with the total sitting at 205.5.
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<p>
In Game 1 of this series in Boston the Bulls pulled off the upset beating the Celtics 106-102. In Game 1 Chicago did not have a great shooting game (42.9%), but they held Boston to 43% shooting and while the Bulls had more turnovers (19 to 16) they had 20 offensive boards holding the Celtics to 12. Jimmy Butler led four starts scoring in double figures going for 30 points on 9/19 shooting and Bobby Portis came up big going for 19 points off the bench. Chicago has covered the spread in four of their last five games to bring their against the spread record on the season to 43-40. The total for Game 1 went over while in the Bulls previous five games the total went under and for the season they have an O/U record of 33-49-1.
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<p>
The Celtics are down 0-1 in this series at home because they had a poor shooting game and could not keep the Bulls from dominating the offensive glass. Isaiah Thomas was the high scorer for Boston going for 33 points on 10-18 shooting, but he did have six turnovers. Avery Bradley and Joe Crowder combined for 23 points on only 9/25 shooting and they combined to miss 10 of their 15 3-pointers. The Celtics have failed to cover the spread in two of their last three games and for the season they have an ATS record of 40-41-2. In their last three games they have an O/U record of 1-1-1 and on the season they have an O/U record of 40-39-4.
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<p>
This season the Bulls are 17-25 on the road and on offense they rank 23rd in the league in ppg, 24th in 3-pt FG%, and 6th in free throw percentage. On defense they rank 6th in ppg allowed, 5th in 3-pt FG% allowed, and 11th in free-throw percentage allowed.
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<p>
The Celtics are 30-12 at home this season and rank 7th in ppg, 14th in 3-pt FG%, and 3rd in free throw percentage. On the defensive side of the ball Boston ranks 15th in ppg allowed, 2nd in 3-pt FG% allowed, and 9th in free-throw percentage allowed.
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<p>
The Bulls have won three of their five games facing the Celtics this season. In the Bulls 106-102 win in Game 1 of this series they covered the spread as a 6.5-point underdog and the total went Over.
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<h2>
Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Betting Trends<br />
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<ul>
<li>
The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall
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<li>
The Bulls are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games
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<li>
The Celtics are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall
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<li>
The Celtics are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games
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<li>
The Celtics had failed to cover the spread in four straight games against the Celtics in Boston before doing so in Game 1 of this series.
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</ul>
<h2>
Public Money Consensus<br />
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<p>
In this NBA playoff matchup between Chicago and Boston have the public leaning slightly to the visiting Bulls getting the 7 points with just 51%. The over/under bettors are more definitively taking the over position on this game with 70% on board.
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Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Prediction

In the opener I thought that Isaiah would will himself to a top performance and he did just that, but the Celtics still faltered. I think it will be more difficult for him in Game 2 and that reason alone I feel that the seven points is too much to lay. The Bulls have won eight of their last ten and there is no reason to believe that they won’t come out with another strong performance tonight.

Free Pick: Take the Chicago Bulls +7
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