(7) Chicago (2-2, 2-1-1 ATS at (2) Boston (2-2, 1-2-1 ATS)
After knotting up their best-of-7 series with a thrilling double-overtime victory at home, the Bulls head back to Boston looking to push the defending champs to the brink of elimination, which they can do with a Game 5 upset win at TD Banknorth Garden.
Chicago outlasted the Celtics 121-118 on Sunday, pushing as a three-point home favorite as it rebounded from an embarrassing 21-point home loss in Game 4. All seven Bulls who attempted at least one shot scored in double figures, with guard Derrick Rose (23 points, 11 rebounds), forward Tyrus Thomas (14 points, 10 rebounds) and center Joakim Noah (12 points, 10 rebounds) all notching double-doubles. Ben Gordon, whose three-pointer in the waning seconds of the first overtime kept the Bulls alive, added 22 points, while John Salmons chipped in with 20.
The Celtics’ big three of Paul Pierce (game-high 29 points), Ray Allen (28 points) and Rajon Rondo (25 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) all had terrific performances in Game 3. However, Boston made just 42.1 percent of its field goals (Chicago shot 48.4 percent), committed 19 turnovers and failed to take advantage of a significant free-throw disparity (the Celtics went 28-for-32 from the foul line, compared with the Bulls’ 26-for-35 performance).
The Celtics are still 14-4 SU in their last 18 games overall and 10-1 SU in their last 11 at home (only home loss came in Game 1 against the Bulls), and they’ve now topped the century mark in six straight games and 12 of their last 13. Meanwhile, Chicago is on a 14-6 SU roll, and the Bulls have scored in triple digits in 19 of their last 25 contests, putting up 107.1 ppg during this stretch.
Despite Sunday’s loss, Boston is still 8-3 SU in the last 11 meetings with the Bulls and 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12. However, Chicago is 3-2 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in the last five clashes since March 17. Also, the underdog is 4-0-1 during this five-meeting stretch after the favorite cashed in each of the previous nine in this rivalry.
Prior to the start of this series, the Celtics had won and covered four straight home games against Chicago in the past two seasons, winning by margins of 18, 16, 23 and 25 points. However, the Bulls took Game 1 in overtime 105-103 and lost Game 2 at the buzzer 118-115, cashing in both contests.
For the season, the Celtics are 36-7 SU at home (21-22 ATS), while Chicago is 14-29 on the highway (22-20-1 ATS).
The Bulls are in the midst of pointspread streaks that include 4-0 on the road (all as an underdog), 6-1-1 when catching between five and 10½ points, 4-0 as a pup in the playoffs, 5-1-1 in first-round postseason games, 4-1-1 versus winning teams and 5-2 on Tuesday.
The Celtics are 6-2 in their last eight games played after one day off, but otherwise they’re on ATS slides of 5-13 at home, 5-13 as a favorite, 2-7 after a SU defeat, 1-5-1 against Central Division foes, 1-4 on Tuesday, 2-9 as a favorite of five to 10½ points and 1-10 when favored by that margin in the playoffs.
The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams (3-1 in this series). Additionally, for the Celtics, the over is on streaks of 5-1 overall, 22-6 at home, 18-6 against the Eastern Conference, 7-2 in first-round postseason games, 5-1 when favored, 8-0 after a SU loss and 4-0 on Tuesday. Also, the Bulls are on “over” stretches of 7-2 in first-round playoff action, 15-6 as an underdog, 5-0 as a playoff pup, 9-4 against the Atlantic Division and 11-5-1 on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO and OVER
After knotting up their best-of-7 series with a thrilling double-overtime victory at home, the Bulls head back to Boston looking to push the defending champs to the brink of elimination, which they can do with a Game 5 upset win at TD Banknorth Garden.
Chicago outlasted the Celtics 121-118 on Sunday, pushing as a three-point home favorite as it rebounded from an embarrassing 21-point home loss in Game 4. All seven Bulls who attempted at least one shot scored in double figures, with guard Derrick Rose (23 points, 11 rebounds), forward Tyrus Thomas (14 points, 10 rebounds) and center Joakim Noah (12 points, 10 rebounds) all notching double-doubles. Ben Gordon, whose three-pointer in the waning seconds of the first overtime kept the Bulls alive, added 22 points, while John Salmons chipped in with 20.
The Celtics’ big three of Paul Pierce (game-high 29 points), Ray Allen (28 points) and Rajon Rondo (25 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) all had terrific performances in Game 3. However, Boston made just 42.1 percent of its field goals (Chicago shot 48.4 percent), committed 19 turnovers and failed to take advantage of a significant free-throw disparity (the Celtics went 28-for-32 from the foul line, compared with the Bulls’ 26-for-35 performance).
The Celtics are still 14-4 SU in their last 18 games overall and 10-1 SU in their last 11 at home (only home loss came in Game 1 against the Bulls), and they’ve now topped the century mark in six straight games and 12 of their last 13. Meanwhile, Chicago is on a 14-6 SU roll, and the Bulls have scored in triple digits in 19 of their last 25 contests, putting up 107.1 ppg during this stretch.
Despite Sunday’s loss, Boston is still 8-3 SU in the last 11 meetings with the Bulls and 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12. However, Chicago is 3-2 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in the last five clashes since March 17. Also, the underdog is 4-0-1 during this five-meeting stretch after the favorite cashed in each of the previous nine in this rivalry.
Prior to the start of this series, the Celtics had won and covered four straight home games against Chicago in the past two seasons, winning by margins of 18, 16, 23 and 25 points. However, the Bulls took Game 1 in overtime 105-103 and lost Game 2 at the buzzer 118-115, cashing in both contests.
For the season, the Celtics are 36-7 SU at home (21-22 ATS), while Chicago is 14-29 on the highway (22-20-1 ATS).
The Bulls are in the midst of pointspread streaks that include 4-0 on the road (all as an underdog), 6-1-1 when catching between five and 10½ points, 4-0 as a pup in the playoffs, 5-1-1 in first-round postseason games, 4-1-1 versus winning teams and 5-2 on Tuesday.
The Celtics are 6-2 in their last eight games played after one day off, but otherwise they’re on ATS slides of 5-13 at home, 5-13 as a favorite, 2-7 after a SU defeat, 1-5-1 against Central Division foes, 1-4 on Tuesday, 2-9 as a favorite of five to 10½ points and 1-10 when favored by that margin in the playoffs.
The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams (3-1 in this series). Additionally, for the Celtics, the over is on streaks of 5-1 overall, 22-6 at home, 18-6 against the Eastern Conference, 7-2 in first-round postseason games, 5-1 when favored, 8-0 after a SU loss and 4-0 on Tuesday. Also, the Bulls are on “over” stretches of 7-2 in first-round playoff action, 15-6 as an underdog, 5-0 as a playoff pup, 9-4 against the Atlantic Division and 11-5-1 on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO and OVER
