The Chicago Bulls have been a money -making machine for bettors, which could continue against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Atlanta hasn’t lived up to the preseason hype, but there is still time for the young squad to start producing their best.
It’s no surprise that NBA betting odds have the Bulls at -6 as they’re the in-form team in this matchup.
Game: Chicago Bulls (20-10) at Atlanta Hawks (15-17)
Location: State Farm Arena
Day/Time: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks
Short-handed Bulls Getting it Done
Despite not having the likes of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, the Chicago Bulls are leaning on their star players to step up.
Sunday’s 113-105 win over the Indiana Pacers was a prime example of Chicago’s depth on display. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine were big as usual with 24 and 32 points, respectively, but excellent production from Javonte Green and Nikola Vucevic was the difference.
It was the Bulls’ third consecutive win to improve to 20-10, which sees them lead the Central Division standings over Milwaukee.
They are also covering spreads at an impressive rate. The Bulls are 19-11 against the spread, so the sportsbook has been getting burned. They are also 9-5 ATS on the road, so playing the Hawks on the road holds no fears.
There is some concern with their last two away games resulting in losses to Cleveland and Miami, but one game sticks out. The 115-110 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers was a prime-time win, which holds them in good stead.
DeRozan was incredible with 38 points, and it shows that the Bulls can handle tough teams.
“It’s an honor to be trusted in those moments,” DeRozan told ESPN. “I never take it for granted. It’s an adrenaline rush that you can’t duplicate, so you try to make the most of it every time you’re put in that position. There’s nothing like it. You’ve got to take the good with the bad, and I’m willing to take both.”
Bettors should feel confident with the Bulls, who rank in the top 10 for defense and 12th on offense.
What’s the Deal, Atlanta?
Earlier in the season, Trae Young said the regular season didn’t matter. Fast forward a few months and the Atlanta Hawks superstar could be eating his words.
The Hawks are currently in danger of not making the playoffs, and scoring under 100 points in their last three games isn’t going to get it done.
For the NBA’s 11th-best offense, the Hawks have hit a wall. They scored only 87 points in a 101-87 loss to the New York Knicks on Christmas Day, and we’re not sure they’ll recover in time to face the Bulls.
It’s not all their fault, especially with the amount of players missing in action. Lineups can change hourly, but the Hawks have been without John Collins, Young and Kevin Huerter.
Young is expected to be back in the lineup, but betting online markets are still giving the Hawks points at home.
They’re a tough team to bet on at the moment, so bettors might want to steer clear.
Bulls Ready to Charge
We see no reason for bettors to jump off the back of the Bulls. They are playing excellent basketball and the stars are stepping up.
Having a one-two combination of DeRozan and LaVine is tough to overlook. Atlanta has its star players as well, but the inexperience is starting to show.
Chicago is the much safer bet, and despite being a -6 favorite on the road, we expect them to win comfortably and cover the number.
