Bet Bulls Celtics – Boston Takes Advantage Of Ailing Chicago On Sunday Afternoon

Sports betting players who follow the NBA have seen how big of a role injuries are going to play in this season, and they watched Boston struggle through it early on. Now the Celtics are healthy and playing like a contender, while Chicago has had some injury concerns over a long road trip and they could run out of gas in Beantown in a nationally-televised Sunday showdown.

What: NBA Betting
When: Sunday, February 12th, 3:30 PM ET
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Pick: Boston Celtics

Why Bet On Chicago Bulls (22-6 SU, 17-11 ATS)

The Bulls made short work of New Orleans on Wednesday in a 90-67 road romp, and this was key because it allowed them to get Derrick Rose off the floor as quickly as possible. Rose played only 22 minutes, posting six points, six rebounds and five assists, while Carlos Boozer led the offense with 18 points, and Joakim Noah put up 13 points and 10 boards for the Bulls, who outscored the Hornets 58-40 in the paint. Chicago also had a +12 edge on the glass and shot 45.9% from the field, while holding the Hornets to 37.3% and it was a solid all-around night for the Bulls as they put away a team that they were supposed to with minimal fuss. They’ll be in Charlotte on Friday night and the Boston game represents the end of a nine-game road trip that started on January 29th, so they could be a little fatigued to start out on Sunday.

It has also been a road trip of injuries as Rose (back, toe) is ailing, and Richard Hamilton (groin, thigh) is also banged up. This season’s NBA betting odds are at the mercy of injuries as teams are playing insane schedules, so we’re not even sure who will be playing in this game. Rose is likely try to give it a shot, while we wouldn’t bet on the older Hamilton being able to shake off his injuries, although the sight of Hamilton and Boston’s Ray Allen running each other off a million screens all night would be entertaining.

Why Bet On Boston Celtics (14-10 SU, 12-12 ATS)

The Celtics last played on Tuesday, when they defeated Charlotte 94-84 in a game where Paul Pierce became the second-leading scorer in the history of the franchise, passing Larry Bird and now he follows only John Havlicek on the list, although Pierce said that he would rather have another title. Pierce had a great all-around game with 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Kevin Garnett dropped 22 points, Allen had 17 and Rajon Rondo had a tremendous night steering the offense with 10 points, 14 boards and no turnovers for the Celtics, who shot 50.8% from the field despite going 4-of-23 from beyond the arc. It was one of the best games that Boston has played all season and it appears as though everyone is healthy and back on track. Remember, Pierce started the season on the injured list, while Garnett is the only player on the team to play all 24 games and his knees are likely 10 years old than his 35 years.

Keyon Dooling (hip) and Marquis Daniels (ankle) are both listed as day-to-day, but that just means more time for young guys like E’Twaun Moore, who scored 16 points in a win over Orlando last week. The Celtics are going to be an NBA betting threat when it’s all said, if the young guys can ease some of the load that the veterans carry because when it comes down to playoff time, who in the East would be above Boston outside of Chicago and Miami? Atlanta is inconsistent, Dwight Howard may not be in Orlando and the Celtics have dominated them even with Howard still in the Magic Kingdom), Philadelphia and Indiana haven’t proven they’re for real yet, and then who is left? With their experience, the Celtics just have to make it to the playoffs. Their main worry for this game is fatigue, as they host their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Thursday before heading to Toronto on Friday night.

How It Will Play Out

Boston will be the NBA betting favorite at home, where they’re 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS against the Bulls in their last five meetings, with three games going over the posted total. The Celtics are first in the league in points allowed, while the Bulls are third, so don’t expect a shootout. The Bulls have won the last three meetings overall, including an 88-79 win in Boston in January.

The edge goes to the Celtics in this contest as they’re a little healthier and we’re not sure how ready Rose is; back and toe injuries tend to nag and there isn’t a lot of rest involved in the schedule. Rose should play unless he is a detriment to the team, but he won’t be at 100% and Rondo could upstage the reigning MVP. Look for an inspired effort from the Celtics, who want to prove they’re still a force in the East, and take them in Sunday’s online betting picks.