Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction, NBA Odds
Boston is a solid favourite on the NBA odds.
Celtics vs. Bulls NBA Betting Odds
Boston and Chicago are two big-market teams with a lot of championship tradition – although the Bulls’ six titles are all limited to one era in the 1990s with Michael Jordan – but they are in very different spots right now.
The Celtics are of course defending NBA champions and +240 favourites to repeat in June. When they are at full health and motivation, it’s very difficult to see any team beating Boston. Maybe Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals, but I don’t see an Eastern Conference club doing it. The C’s have arguably the deepest team in the league with eight players averaging more than 22 minutes per game. They are well over the salary cap so likely won’t be making any major moves ahead of the February trade deadline.
Chicago is yet again stuck in the worst possible place in the NBA: Not good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to likely win the draft lottery, and there is a major prize for 2025 in Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. I do expect the Bulls to trade away pieces by February – they badly want to deal former All-Star Zach LaVine, but he has a terrible contract – in order to tank as much as possible. Chicago owes its 2025 first-round pick to San Antonio if it’s outside the top 10, and the Bulls simply can’t let that happen.
Saturday marks the third of four regular-season meetings with Boston up 2-1 despite being stunned at home Friday. The finale is January 29 in Beantown.
Boston Celtics
Boston has been on the wrong side of a couple of the biggest upsets in the NBA this season, including Thursday when it was -14.5 at home vs. Chicago and beaten 117-108. All the Celtics starters played, but the team shot only 39.2 per cent overall and 25.0 per cent from deep. No team attempts more three-pointers than Boston, which is on pace to obliterate the league record in that regard. The Celtics hoisted up 56 three-pointers Friday and tied a franchise record with 42 misses. Chicago was just better from deep in this particular game. There have only been 10 instances in Celtics history where they allowed an opponent to shoot more than 50 three-pointers in a game. The Bulls have now done it twice this season alone.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum continued his MVP-calibre season with 31 points and 10 rebounds, his 17th double-double of the year. Tatum is on pace to join Hall of Famers John Havlicek (1970-71) and Larry Bird (three times) as the only players in franchise history to average at least 28.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in a season. Boston hasn’t lost back-to-back games this year, and I expect a major bounce-back game. The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their past six.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is on a season-high three-game winning streak – including a one-point victory in Toronto on Monday – after Thursday’s big upset victory. That improved the Bulls to 3-7 straight up but 7-3 ATS in their past 10 overall as double-digit dogs. Zach LaVine certainly didn’t hurt his trade value on Thursday with a season-high 36 points along with six rebounds and four assists. Point guard Josh Giddey, the team’s big offseason addition via trade from Oklahoma City, was out with an ankle injury. It was the Aussie’s first missed game of the year but it’s not considered anything serious and he might return Saturday. Giddey has been decent, averaging 11.9 points, 6.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds.
Do you remember Lonzo Ball? He’s back (relatively) healthy now from a devastating knee issue but still on a major minutes restriction and comes off the bench. The Bulls might have been something a couple of years ago before Ball got hurt. Chicago is 3-8 SU in its past 11 at home.
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