After a win over the Charlotte Hornets last night, the Chicago Bulls now host the Boston Celtics at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, May 7. This game tips at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the Bulls will be desperate for a victory to keep them alive in the playoff race.
Can Chicago take advantage of a Boston team that won’t have Jaylen Brown tonight? Find out in our Celtics vs. Bulls picks and predictions.
Celtics vs Bulls odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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NBA Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonBoston moved from a -2.5 overnight opener to -4 this morning and stuck at the latter number all day at PointsBet USA. As of 4:30 p.m. ET, the Celtics are taking 69 percent of spread tickets, while the Bulls are getting 52 percent of spread dollars. The total initially fell from 223.5 to 222, then made its way up to 224.5, with 60 percent of tickets on the Over and 66 percent of money on the Under.
Check out the full line movement for this gameCeltics at Bulls betting preview
Injuries
Celtics: C Robert Williams III (questionable), C Tristan Thompson (probable), F Jaylen Brown (doubtful), G Romeo Langford (out).
Bulls: F Troy Brown Jr. (questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Celtics are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bulls.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Zach LaVine returned to the Bulls last night, scoring 13 points in 27 minutes of action. Chicago beat Charlotte by 21 in that contest, and the team now looks to keep its play-in hopes alive with a home victory over a Boston group that is missing Jaylen Brown. Brown’s two-way impact on the wing is irreplaceable for the Celtics, and his absence immediately makes this a winnable game for the Bulls. LaVine, who scored 30 points in a loss to the Celtics in January, should be excited about not having to deal with Brown’s perimeter defense.
Another reason to like Chicago in this game is that Boston is probably weakest at the center position, and even that’s when the team is at full strength. But with both of its rotation bigs banged up, there’s a good chance that Nikola Vucevic will absolutely dominate here. The 30-year-old had 29 points and 14 assists in 31 minutes against the Hornets last night, and he is capable of lighting defenses up around the basket and behind the three-point line. With Boston either shorthanded or just not at 100 percent health, the Bulls will probably get him a few more post touches.
Finally, keep an eye on Thaddeus Young in this game. The forward has been great on both ends of the floor for the Bulls this season, and he has the strength to make things tough on Jayson Tatum in the paint. Tatum has been attacking the rim more than ever this season, but it’ll be tough against a guy like Young.
PREDICTION: Bulls +4.0 (-110)
Over/Under pick
Over the last five games, Chicago is in the league’s Top 10 in defensive rating, and the group also happens to be playing at a slower pace than all but six teams in that span. Even with LaVine back in the lineup last night, things didn’t really change stylistically. The Bulls are playing with more pride on the defensive end lately, and they are also working the ball in to Vucevic. Playing through a mid-post big man like that inherently slows the game down.
None of those things bode well for Over bettors in this one, and Boston also happens to be more of a half-court team, which means the Celtics won’t be looking to get out and run very often. They also don’t have Brown in this game, so they’re missing All-Star level production on the offensive end. The Under looks like the move tonight.
PREDICTION: Under 222.0 (-110)
Player prop pick
Vucevic might not get 20 shots a night with LaVine back in the lineup, but he should be able to do a lot with whatever looks he gets against this Celtics frontcourt. In his only meeting with Boston since the C’s traded Daniel Theis away, Vucevic had 29 points in a 102-96 victory for the Bulls.
This is just a mouth-watering matchup for the versatile center, and he should be able to pour in a good amount of points here.
PREDICTION: Nikola Vucevic Over 22.5 Points (-125)
Celtics vs Bulls betting card
- Bulls +4.0 (-110)
- Under 222.0 (-110)
- Nikola Vucevic Over 22.5 Points (-125)
Picks made on 5/7/2021 at 10:05 a.m. ET
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