Date: Sunday, April 23, 2017 –6:30 PM ET | Location: United Center – Chicago, IL |TV: TNT
Point Spread: BOS -2.5/CHI +2.5
Total Line: 204

The Chicago Bulls (43-42) host the Boston Celtics (54-31) in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference playoff series that will take place at the United Center in
Chicago, IL at 6:30 PM ET. The Celtics are a 2.5-point road favorite in this game with a total sitting at 204.

The Bulls are up 2-1 in this series.

In Game 3 of this series the Celtics beat the Bulls 104-87. Boston got off to a blazing start in the game outscoring Chicago 33-15 in the first quarter and for the game the Celtics shot 47.7% from the floor and held the Bulls to 39.3% shooting. Al Horford was the high scorer for Boston in Game 3 going for 18 points and he also had eight rebounds. Four of five Celtics starters went for at least 15 points and Joe Crowder and Isaiah Thomas, who was only 7/18 from the field, each went for 16 points. Boston covered the spread in Game 3 after failing to do so in the first two games of the season and for the season they have an ATS record of 41-42-2. The total for Game 3 went over while the first two games went under and on the season the Celtics have an O/U record of 41-40-4.

After the Bulls were outscored by 18 points in the first quarter in the Game 3 loss they outscored the Celtics by 15 points in the 2nd quarter. However, they then came out flat in the 3rd getting outscored by 10. Chicago struggled with their shot in the game with a FG% less than 40% and they also committed 18 turnovers. Dwyane Wade was the high scorer for Chicago in Game 3 going for 18 points, but he was only 6/18 from the field. The team’s leading scorer on the season Jimmy Butler only went for 14 points on 7/21 shooting and he missed all four of his3-pointers. The Bulls had covered the spread in four straight games before failing to do so in Game 3 and on the season against the spread they are 44-41. The total has gone under in six of the Bulls last eight games, with the two over games being the first two games of this series, and for the season they have an O/U record of 34-50-1.

This season the Celtics are 24-18 on the road and on offense rank 7th in ppg, 14th in 3-pt FG%, and 3rd in free throw percentage. On defense they rank 15th in ppg allowed, 2nd in 3-pt FG% allowed, and 9th in free-throw percentage allowed.

This season the Bulls are 25-17 at home and on offense they rank 23rd in the league in ppg, 24th in 3-pt FG%, and 6th in free throw percentage. On the defensive side of the ball Chicago ranks 6th in ppg allowed, 5th in 3-pt FG% allowed, and 11th in free-throw percentage allowed.

Even with the Game 3 loss the Bulls are up 2-1 in this series and they have won four of their seven games facing the Celtics on the season. The road team has won every game in this series. In Game 3 the Celtics beat the Bulls 104-87, covered the spread as a 1.5-point underdog, and the total went under.

Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

• The Celtics are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall
• The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
• The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall
• The Bulls are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss
• The Bulls are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 home games against the Celtics

Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls Prediction

The Bulls really missed point guard Rajon Rondo setting up shots as proven by their dismal 39.3% from the field. While I do think that they will play better tonight, I don’t think that they’ll prevail and the line is small enough that a win most likely gets you the money.

Take the Boston Celtics -2.5

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