Bulls Look to Extend Lead in NBA Central Division
The Chicago Bulls face the Indiana Pacers on Monday night in an NBA Central Division showdown.
Chicago enters this game with an overall record of 21-9 SU and 15-15 ATS. The Bulls on the road this season are 13-4.
Indiana comes into this game with an overall record of 11-20 SU and 17-12-2 ATS. At home, the Pacers are 6-8.
Odds makers have made the Bulls the favorite on the road by 5.5 points, with the point total sitting comfortably at 194.5.
Chicago has won six consecutive games and has started to assert themselves as one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
Indiana on the other hand held one of the top spots last season in the East, but is near the bottom early this season.
The Bulls can be dominating with their frontcourt of Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and newcomer Pau Gasol, or they can put backcourt stalwarts Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler in charge of dominating a game.
Tom Thibodeau the Bulls head coach said his coaching staff and he have asked every player to make sacrifices for the team.
Indiana played devastating defense to reach the final of the Eastern Conference last season, but have been hit hard by injury and are just now showing some signs of turning their season around.
On Saturday, the Pacers played nearly flawless basketball in a 110-85 victory on the road at Brooklyn. Seven Pacers scored double figures.
George Hill missed the first 28 games of this season due to an injured knee, but has been instrumental in guiding the team to victories in 2 of their past 3 games following his return.
The rapid rise of Butler’s game and Rose’s return from his injuries has given the Bulls a dynamic scoring punch down the stretch in games.
Nikola Mirotic a rookie at forward for Chicago is averaging nearly 14 points per game in his past five. The presence of Gasol down low has improved the defense around the rim and helped the offense.
Indiana has shot 50% or better in each of its past four games after not shooting 50% from the floor in any of the team’s first 27 games.
Kirk Hinrich a guard for Chicago has been sidelined three consecutive games with a hamstring problem.
Indiana defeated Chicago 99-90 November 15 and has won six of the past nine in head-to-head action with Chicago.
The favorite has covered the spread in 5 of the past 6 games between the two.
The team playing at home has covered the spread in 5 of the past 6 games between the two teams.
The UNDER has cashed in 5 of the past 7 games between the two played in Indiana.
The UNDER has cashed in 11 of the past 16 games overall between the two.
Pick: Chicago 94-89
