This will be the second game of a back-to-back for the Celtics, but they look like they’re heating up, coming off a blowout win over the Cavs on Sunday.  Chicago’s young roster has been up-and-down all year, but they’re facing a tired Boston team, so this would be a great chance for the Bulls’ young guns to get a statement win.

Boston is favoured to win on the NBA odds.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

These teams only met each other twice last season, with the Celtics sweeping both games.  Boston has won eight of their last 10 games against the Bulls, outscoring Chicago by an average of 111-97.

Boston seems to love playing at the United Center, as they have won seven of their last eight games in Chicago and covered the spread in each of those seven wins.  The Celtics have covered eight times this season and have hit the Over in nine of their 16 games, including four of their last five games overall.

The Bulls are rewarding bettors big time, covering in 11 of their 16 games this season, including eight of their last 10 games.  Chicago has also had no trouble putting up points.  The Bulls have hit the Over 10 times, this year, four times at home and six times on the road, and they have hit the Over in six of their last eight games overall.

Boston Celtics

Boston was at home on Sunday night playing the front half of a back-to-back. After heading into Sunday on a three game losing streak, the Celtics offence exploded in a 141-103 blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Jayson Tatum still out due to COVID-19 protocols, it was Jaylen Brown who stepped up, once again. Brown had a game-high 33 points in just 19 minutes of action (the first NBA player to ever score 33 points in 19 or fewer minutes) and now leads Boston, averaging 27.3 points per game. Tatum, who has missed the last five games, is averaging 26.9 points per game and is likely to return against the Bulls, according to Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

Another sign Tatum may make his return on Monday is the absence of Kemba Walker. After finishing with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Cavs, Stevens said Walker is not expected to play against Chicago. It’s likely more precautionary and nothing serious, as the Celtics have been cautious with Walker and haven’t let him play more than 29 minutes in a single game, this year. Walker missed the first 11 games of the season with a knee injury that had bothered him last season and into the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have split their last six games and are coming into this game after a 101-90 loss to the Lakers on Saturday. Zach LaVine finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists against L.A. and he now leads Chicago in points per game (LaVine averages 26.8) and steals per game (LaVine averages 1.4). LaVine has been the biggest part of the Bulls’ offence by far, with Lauri Markkanen, the next leading scorer, averaging 18.6 points per game, just over eight fewer than LaVine.

At 25-years-old, LaVine is one of the more veteran players on this Bulls roster, as the team has an average age of 25.8 and 10 of their 17 players are under the age of 25. Outside of LaVine and Markkanen, second-year guard Coby White has become a full-time starter after starting just one game in his rookie campaign. White had 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists on Saturday and is averaging 15.9 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and a team-high 5.9 assists per game. Facing a team that is playing the second game of a back-to-back, this could be a great chance for a team full of young talent, like the Bulls, to get a statement win.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Bulls?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.44
Assists	Marcus Smart 5.69
Rebounds	Tristan Thompson 8.13
FG%	Tacko Fall 72.4
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.5
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.75

CHI

Points	Zach LaVine 27.43
Assists	Zach LaVine 4.86
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.54
FG%	Thaddeus Young 55.9
Steals	Thaddeus Young 1.09
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.77

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.6
Assists	Marcus Smart 6
Rebounds	Tristan Thompson 9.8
FG%	Luke Kornet 100
Steals	Jayson Tatum 1.2
Blocks	Robert Williams III 3

CHI

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bulls Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.44
Assists	Marcus Smart 5.69
Rebounds	Tristan Thompson 8.13
FG%	Tacko Fall 72.4
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.5
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.75

CHI

Points	Zach LaVine 27.43
Assists	Zach LaVine 4.86
Rebounds	Nikola Vucevic 11.54
FG%	Thaddeus Young 55.9
Steals	Thaddeus Young 1.09
Blocks	Nikola Vucevic 0.77

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.6
Assists	Marcus Smart 6
Rebounds	Tristan Thompson 9.8
FG%	Luke Kornet 100
Steals	Jayson Tatum 1.2
Blocks	Robert Williams III 3

CHI

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Boston

Kemba Walker (PG)

Out Tues Knee - 29 / 05 / 21

Robert Williams III (C)

Out Tues Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Kemba Walker (PG)

Prob Fri Knee - 27 / 05 / 21

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Tues Toe - 24 / 05 / 21

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Sat Toe - 19 / 05 / 21

Kemba Walker (PG)

Ques Tues Neck - 16 / 05 / 21

Evan Fournier (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 16 / 05 / 21

Kemba Walker (PG)

Out Sat Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Tristan Thompson (C)

Prob Tues Pectoral - 14 / 05 / 21

Evan Fournier (SG)

Prob Sat Knee - 14 / 05 / 21

Chicago

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Out Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Daniel Theis (PF)

Out Sun Hip - 12 / 05 / 21

Daniel Theis (PF)

Ques Tues Hip - 09 / 05 / 21

Cristiano Felicio (PF)

Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 05 / 21

Lauri Markkanen (PF)

Ques Sat Illness - 01 / 05 / 21

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Prob Thurs Leg - 01 / 05 / 21

Nikola Vucevic (C)

Prob Fri Hip - 29 / 04 / 21

Patrick Williams (SF)

Prob Sat Heel - 23 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kemba Walker (PG)	Out Tues	Knee - 29 / 05 / 21	1-2	3-0	+ -
Walker is bothered by left knee soreness, and he will not dress for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Robert Williams III (C)	Out Tues	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	1-2	3-0	+ -
Williams III is nursing a left ankle sprain, and he will not take on the Nets in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Kemba Walker (PG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 27 / 05 / 21	1-2	3-0	+ -
Walker is managing a left knee medial bone contusion, but it is likely that he will take the court to face the Nets in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Tues	Toe - 24 / 05 / 21	1-3	3-1	+ -
Williams III is expected to dress for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite left foot turf toe.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Sat	Toe - 19 / 05 / 21	2-3	3-2	+ -
Williams is bothered by left foot turf toe, but it is projected that he will be available versus the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Kemba Walker (PG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 16 / 05 / 21	3-3	3-3	+ -
Walker is nursing left cervical nerve irritation, and it is up in the air if he will take the court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In against the Wizards.
Evan Fournier (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 16 / 05 / 21	3-3	3-3	+ -
Fournier is bothered by a right knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In versus the Wizards.
Kemba Walker (PG)	Out Sat	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	3-4	3-4	+ -
Walker will not take on the Timberwolves on Saturday as he will be given a day of rest.
Tristan Thompson (C)	Prob Tues	Pectoral - 14 / 05 / 21	3-4	3-4	+ -
Thompson is tending to a left pectoral strain, but it is projected that he will dress versus the Wizards for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In.
Evan Fournier (SG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 14 / 05 / 21	3-4	3-4	+ -
Fournier is bothered by a right knee hyper flexion, but he is expected to face the Timberwolves on Saturday.

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Vucevic will not be in the lineup on Sunday versus the Bucks, as he will be given a day of rest.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Satoransky was held out of the last contest due to a left ankle sprain, and he will not face the Bucks on Sunday.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Satoransky is bothered by a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will line up against the Raptors on Thursday.
Daniel Theis (PF)	Out Sun	Hip - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Theis has missed the previous two games due to a right hip contusion, and he will not be available for Sunday's matchup with the Bucks.
Daniel Theis (PF)	Ques Tues	Hip - 09 / 05 / 21	3-2	0-5	+ -
Theis sat out the last game tending to a right hip contusion, and it is unclear if he will take the court to battle the Nets on Tuesday.
Cristiano Felicio (PF)	Ques Mon	Illness - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Felicio sat out the last game nursing an illness, and it is unclear if he will be in the lineup versus the 76ers on Monday.
Lauri Markkanen (PF)	Ques Sat	Illness - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Markkanen is ailing from an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will take the court against the Hawks on Saturday.
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Prob Thurs	Leg - 01 / 05 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Vucevic has missed the last two games due to an adductor injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available versus the Hornets on Thursday.
Nikola Vucevic (C)	Prob Fri	Hip - 29 / 04 / 21	4-6	0-10	+ -
Vucevic is dealing with right adductor tightness, but he is likely to face the Bucks on Friday.
Patrick Williams (SF)	Prob Sat	Heel - 23 / 04 / 21	6-8	3-11	+ -
Williams is battling left heel soreness, but he is projected to take the court for Saturday's tilt with the Heat.