NBA Lock Alert - Bulls to Cover against Celtics with Outright Win

The suddenly-feisty Boston Celtics (63-21 SU, 43-41 ATS, 43-40-1 O/U) in their first-round playoff series when they host the defending champions at the United Center in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series tonight at 8 PM ET.

The Celtics squeaked by the Bulls in Game 2, winning 118-115 on Monday as Ray Allen nailed a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to help Boston even the series at one game apiece.

The Celtics failed to cover the spread for the second consecutive game as 8.5-point home favorites just as I predicted in the BetUS Locker Room on Monday while the final score played Over the 196-point O/U total.

Allen finished with a team-high 30 points for the Celtics, while blossoming forward Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis added 26 points and nine rebounds.

Shooting guard Ben Gordon scored a game-high 42 points for Chicago while small forward John Salmons added 17 points.

Here is a look at tonight’s key NBA betting trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks.

The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog.

The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.

The Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.

The Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Chicago.

The Celtics are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

The Favorite is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

Boston Celtics +3 -110

Chicago Bulls -3 -110

Over 201 -110

Under 201 -110

Analysis: Clearly, the young Chicago Bulls are not intimidated by the defending-champion Boston Celtics and have shown that they can hang with the more experienced

Celtics no matter where they play at.

While Chicago went an uninspiring 2-3 ATS over the course of its last five regular season home games, I like the Bulls to win and cover the spread in this contest, fueled by their boisterous United Center fans.

The Celtics have gone just 4-6 ATS over its last 10 games and just don’t have the look of a team that has championship title hopes.

Take the younger and apparently, hungrier Bulls to win and cover while the final score plays Over the O/U total for the fifth straight meeting between these ballclubs.

NBA Free Picks: Bulls -3 Points/Over 201 Total Points