Chicago has already been eliminated in Group C by way of their 0-3 mark. Meanwhile, Boston is 2-1 in the event and looks to their second consecutive matchup.
Can the Bulls spoil the Celtics’ In-Season Tournament hopes? Find out when I preview with a free pick for the Bulls vs. Celtics on Tuesday, November 28.
Bulls Riding Struggle Bus
The Chicago Bulls head to TD Garden hoping to end a four-game losing skid. They are 27th in scoring, and that’s surprising, considering they have enjoyed a fully healthy Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Niloka Vucevic. Still, they are 5-13 on the season and 1-6 away from United Center.
The Bulls defense is 10th in points allowed. That’s a good thing for them, but Chicago also allowed 25 made three-pointers in their 118-109 away loss to Brooklyn. Still, they allow the second most rebounds per game and 15th-most offensive caroms, and their offense hasn’t been good enough to make up for the difference.
Boston Tops in the East
The Celtics are on a roll with a slide of ‘slaw. They top the Eastern Conference with the best record in the NBA and are 7-0 thus far at TD Garden. They boast the league’s fourth-best defense and an eighth-best scoring, which has propelled Boston to a 13-4 record.
The one-two scoring punch of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has been devastating. The offseason acquisition of Kristap Porzingis gives them a seven-footer who spreads the floor while also providing a team a 1.7 blocked shots per game. Boston is the second-best rebounding team in the league but is 14th in opponent offensive rebounds per game.
Bulls vs Celtics Injuries
Bulls: Alex Caruso missed the Brooklyn loss and is day-to-day for Tuesday.
Boston: Guard Jrue Holiday has missed the past two contests with a sprained ankle and is questionable for Tuesday. Porzingis missed the last game with a calf injury and is listed as questionable for Tuesday.
Bulls vs. Celtics Best Bet
This is a tough one because the Bulls don’t win on the road, don’t cover the spread very often, and don’t consistently score the basketball. That’s a difficult trifecta to overcome, but at least Chicago plays the 10th-best defense in the NBA.
Will their defense help Chicago cover Tuesday night’s +12 (-110) spread in Boston? Absolutely, it will, and I will take the 12 points and see if the Bulls can’t keep this one close enough to cover a dozen points.
Folks like to talk endlessly about Tatum and Brown, and rightly so. They’ve been great, but much of the Celtics’ success on the defensive end is due to Holiday and Porzingis, and Boston isn’t the same team if they aren’t suiting up.
The Bulls have been lousy. They know it and are vilified for it in the Chicago media daily. The Bulls commit the second-fewest turnovers per game but are dead last in assists. I expect a better effort in Boston than Chicago gave at Brooklyn, and if they do, they will cover the +12.0 (-110) at DraftKings Illinois.
My Best Bet: Chicago +12 (-110) DraftKings
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