NBA Playoffs Picks & Predictions for Monday, April 18, 2011
By Anthony Rome
(The Spread) – Game 2 between the Pacers and Bulls takes place tonight, as Chicago hopes to build a 2-0 series advantage.
View Current NBA Basketball Betting Odds
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Bulls 12-point favorites over the Pacers, while the over/under is currently sitting at 193.5 points. Tip off for tonight’s game is set for 9:30PM ET.
The Bulls took Game 1 of this series 104-99 in Chicago last Saturday. Derrick Rose paced the Bulls with 39 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, while Luol Deng added 18 points and 10 boards. Joakim Noah had a team-high 11 rebounds, while Carlos Boozer chipped in 12 points and six boards.
The Pacers gave Chicago all it could handle, but fell at the end due to a poor fourth quarter. Danny Granger had 24 points and six rounds, while Darren Collison added 17 points and a team-high nine assists. Tyler Hansbrough finished with 22 points and four boards, while Roy Hibbert had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
NBA Free Pick: The majority of the betting public appears to be on Indiana tonight after the Pacers hung with the Bulls in Game 1. But I expect a better effort out of Carlos Boozer tonight and for the Bulls to once again dominant the glass. Chicago finished with 49 boards to just 34 for the Pacers in the first game, and pulled down 21 rebounds on offense. If they get that same kind of production tonight where they’re creating second-looks for their shooters, I like the Bulls to roll. According to latest NBA trends, the favorite is 5-2 against the number in the last seven meetings between these two teams, while the home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven games. The Pacers are just 3-7 against the number in their last 10 games against the Bulls and 1-4 ATS in their last five trips to Chicago.
MONDAY NBA FREE PICK: CHICAGO BULLS –12