thursday NBA INFO

Ah, the good old days. For Chicago Bulls fans, such fond
memories revolve around an eight-season stretch from
1990-91 to 1997-98. That’s when Jordan, Pippen and head
coach Phil Jackson ruled over the NBA, winning six world
championships and averaging an annual record of 61-21.
The good old days go back even further for Knicks fans,
though, as New York last claimed an NBA title at the end of
the 1972-73 season under Red Holzman. Fast forward to the
present where the Knickerbockers have been considerably
more competitive than the Bulls, posting three winning
seasons in the four years prior to the current campaign. By
comparison, Chicago has produced just one winning season
in the seven years prior to 2024-25, where they lost in the
opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The
gap between the two teams has widened this season with
the Bulls dragging a 22-33 record into tonight’s matchup
with a Knicks squad that holds down third place in the East
with a 36-18 mark. Incredibly, Chicago sits in the 10th and
fi nal spot in the Eastern playoff race, but they’re being
challenged for that position by Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
In short, head coach Billy Donovan needs to get his Bulls
running now if they hope to make the playoffs. Based on
current form, it’s no surprise to see New York favored by
13-14 points here, as the Knicks reached the All-Star break
on a 9-2 SU run while Chicago limped across the fi nish line
by losing four straight games. But while NY holds a 4-1 ATS
edge in the last fi ve series meetings, the Bulls have beaten
the Knicks in BOTH of this season’s get-togethers. The New
Yorkers also own a weak 3-6 SUATS record after the break
with seven-plus days of rest, including 0-4 ATS at home.
Hey, desperation and double-digits mean Da Bulls have
a shot tonight against a foe in a historically bad role. As
always, we wrap things up with THE CLINCHER: See this
week’s INCREDIBLE STAT on page 2. BY PLAYBOOK

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THURSDAY, February 20th... Boston @ PHILADELPHIA – Bost: 5-1 ATS as div road favs < 14 pts, 5-1 OU in 6+/6+
rest situation / Phil: 3-9 ATS L12 as div home dogs, 8-1 OU vs .666 > opp TY... Memphis @ INDIANA – Memph: 0-6
ATS in 6+/6+ rest situation, 0-4 ATS Thursday road games / Indy: 10-1 ATS in 6+/6+ rest sit, 12-2 OU L14 vs .666 >
opp... Cleveland @ BROOKLYN – Clev: 5-1 ATS w/ home game next day, 1-5 OU in 6+/6+ rest situation / Brook: 1-7
ATS in 6+/6+ rest situation, 1-4 ATS L5 home vs .750 > opp... Chicago @ NEW YORK – 5***** Best Bet ‘OVER the
Total’ – Chic: 4-0 OU L4 vs NY (249.0) / 11-1 OU on Thursdays / 5-1 OU in February / 4-1 OU as dogs w/ 6+ days rest
// NY: 6-0 OU in February / 5-0 OU on Thursdays / 9-1 OU as favs w/ 5+ days rest / 8-1 OU home w/ road game next
day... Orlando @ ATLANTA – 4-0 OU away w/ 6+ days rest, 4-1 OU L5 division road games/ Atl: 7-0 OU L7 division
home games, 5-1 OU home w/ 6+ days rest... La Clippers @ MILWAUKEE – LAC: 8-1 ATS in 6+/6+ rest situation,
5-1 OU L6 non-conference road games / MILW: 4-16 ATS on Thursdays, 4-1 OU in 6+/6+ rest situation... Charlotte @
DENVER – 4**** Best Bet ‘UNDER the Total’ – Char: 0-4 OU as dogs 12 > pts / 1-8 OU w/ non-conference revenge
TY / 1-7-1 OU w/ no rest TY / 1-4 OU L5 vs SW Div // Den: 0-7 OU L7 vs Hornets / 0-3 OU L3 vs SE Div / 1-4 OU L5
vs unrested opp / 1-4 OU home vs .250 < non-div opp... Phoenix @ SAN ANTONIO – Phoe: 1-4 ATS L5 vs SW Div,
5-0 OU L5 road games / San Ant: 6-1 ATS in 6+/6+ rest situation, 4-1 OU L5 home games... La Lakers @ PORTLAND
– LAL: 1-5 away w/ no rest, 5-0 OU before Nuggets / Port: 5-1 ATS home vs unrested opp, 6-0 OU w/ 6+ days rest.