The Bulls have only started 18 games with their preferable starting 5 and now it looks like Carlos Boozer with miss at least a few games with a sprained ankle. “It’s going to hurt us, but we’ve still got to go out there and play the game,” guard Derrick Rose said. “We know that it’s going to take a lot more energy, a lot more focus going into games and people are going to have to step up. If he doesn’t play, Taj (Gibson) did a great job when he was out.” Coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday that Boozer, who missed three games in January with a left ankle sprain, could be out “anywhere from a couple days to a week.” The odds makers at BetUS have the Chicago Bulls a -8 point favorite at home against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Bulls are coming off a victory 101-84 over the Charlotte Bobcats on the road to move to a sweet 39-23-1 ATS for the season. Rose continued his MVP type play with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists while Joakim Noah added 12 points pulled down 13 boards and dished 3 assists. Boozer added 10 points and 7 rebounds before leaving with the ankle injury. Vegas odds makers have the Chicago Bulls +600 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Atlanta Hawks are coming off a loss 101-87 at home to the Los Angeles Lakers to move to 28-36 ATS for the season. Forward-center Al Horford had 17 points and 9 boards while Josh Smith added 16 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Guard Kirk Hinrich chipped in 11 points and 4 assists and Joe Johnson scored 10 points with 2 dimes. Atlanta is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago and the total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 178 ½ points combined of the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.
FREE PICK: Atlanta +7.5
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MATCHUP: Atlanta (37-27) at Chicago (45-18)
GAME TIME: 8:05 PM EST
TELEVISION: NBA TV
Recent Hawks and Bulls NBA Betting Odds Trends:
ATLANTA HAWKS
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Atlanta’s last 12 games
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta’s last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta’s last 9 games when playing Chicago
Atlanta is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
Atlanta is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
CHICAGO BULLS
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago’s last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago’s last 10 games at home
Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Chicago is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chicago’s last 9 games when playing Atlanta
Chicago is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Opening Vegas Odds from Las Vegas
Favorite: Chicago -7.5
Total: O/U 179
* These are the Morning Lines at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas
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