The Chicago Bulls face a tough challenge against the defending champion Boston Celtics, despite a recent win. Analysts predict a closer game than the 14.5-point spread suggests, but the Celtics are still favored to win.
The Chicago Bulls face a challenging matchup against the defending champion Boston Celtics tonight, despite a recent victory over the Denver Nuggets. While the Bulls are significant underdogs with a 14.5-point spread against them at TD Garden, analysts predict a closer contest than the odds suggest.
The Bulls' success against Denver was fueled by a blistering 24-for-53 performance from three-point range and a strong contribution from their bench unit, who outscored the Nuggets' reserves by 41 points. However, a key piece of their offensive firepower will be absent tonight, as Zach LaVine, the team's leading scorer in five consecutive games, will be unavailable due to his wife's impending childbirth. LaVine's absence is a significant blow, as he averages 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Additionally, backcourt mate Coby White is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury.The Celtics have been inconsistent lately, alternating between wins and losses. They suffered a surprising home defeat against the Houston Rockets, marking their third loss in the last five games at TD Garden. This season's performance at their home arena is considerably below last year's dominant record of 37-4. The Celtics are also battling injuries, with All-Star Jayson Tatum (knee), Al Horford (toe), and Sam Hauser (hip) all listed as questionable. The Celtics have shown a stark difference in performance between their wins and losses, averaging 120.5 points in victories compared to just 101.5 points in defeats. Defensively, they have surrendered 104 points in wins but a significantly higher 113.2 points in losses. Despite the recent inconsistency, the Celtics have historically dominated the Bulls, winning two out of three matchups this season and six of the last seven encounters overall. However, they hold only a 4-3-0 record against the spread in those games.The absence of LaVine has impacted Chicago's performance in the past, with a 2-3 record in five games without him. However, the team still managed to average 116.2 points per game in those matchups, failing to score below 100 points in any of those contests. Tatum has emerged as Boston's leading scorer in all three games against the Bulls this season. Even if he remains sidelined, Jaylen Brown has the capability to shoulder the scoring load. Brown recently scored 28 points against the Rockets, marking the second time in four games that he reached at least 25 points. Additionally, Robert Williams III, who has consistently reached double-digit rebounds in all three games against the Celtics, has surpassed the 10.5-board total set for Wednesday on two occasions. Analysts suggest taking advantage of the early win payout offered by bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet placed before tip-off will provide a payout if the team wins, regardless of the point spread. Despite Boston's recent struggles against the spread, they are still expected to prevail against the Bulls, although analysts predict a closer game than the 14.5-point spread indicates.
NBA Chicago Bulls Boston Celtics Zach Lavine Jayson Tatum Jaylen Brown Robert Williams III TD Garden Spread Upset
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Spurs Fall to Bulls Again, Raising Questions About Chicago's MasteryThe San Antonio Spurs suffered another loss to the Chicago Bulls, marking the second defeat this season. Despite leading by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Spurs ultimately fell 114-110. The Bulls' consistent success against San Antonio has sparked questions about whether they have figured out the Spurs' strategies.
Read more »
Washington Wizards Defense Leads to Victory vs. Chicago BullsThe Washington Wizards have been better on the defensive end lately.
Read more »
Could Miles Bridges be Traded to the Chicago Bulls?Speculation about Miles Bridges' future with the Charlotte Hornets heats up as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
Read more »
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose Post Goes ViralThe Chicago Bulls are celebrating NBA MVP Derrick Rose this week.
Read more »
Derrick Rose Hopes for Jersey Retirement with Chicago BullsDerrick Rose, former Chicago Bulls star, expresses his desire to have his jersey number retired by the team.
Read more »
Derrick Rose Wants His Jersey Retired by the Chicago BullsDerrick Rose, the former Chicago Bulls point guard, has expressed his desire to have his jersey retired by the team. Rose, who won the 2011 NBA MVP award and was a key player for the Bulls during his time there, believes it would be a fitting tribute to his legacy with the franchise. He acknowledged that it is a significant honor, considering the limited number of retired jerseys in the Bulls' history.
Read more »