The NBA resumes its season tonight, and in celebration of that, Props.com is debuting a new daily NBA betting preview. Similar to our weekday college basketball betting content, we’ll highlight a featured matchup — and, when warranted, secondary matchups — and provide in-depth analysis and trend information to help you make better-informed wagers.
We kick things off with a Thursday NBA betting preview of two Eastern Conference clashes, highlighted by the streaking Boston Celtics visiting the banged-up Brooklyn Nets. That’s followed by a breakdown of a key battle in the Windy City, where the Chicago Bulls are looking to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks, who are trying to improve their playoff prospects.
Odds via BetMGM and updated as of 4:45 p.m. ET.
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Boston Celtics Vs Brooklyn Nets
Tipoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/TNT
Celtics: 34-26 SU/30-29-1 ATS
Nets: 31-28 SU/23-34-2 ATS
Spread/Total: Celtics -9.5/214.5
Last meeting: Boston crushed the Nets 126-91, easily cashing as a 10.5-point road favorite (Feb. 8)
Did you know: Prior to the most recent meeting, Brooklyn had been on an 8-1 SU/ATS run in this rivalry
About Boston: The Celtics had their season-long nine-game winning streak snapped right before the All-Star break, falling 112-111 to Detroit as a hefty 12-point home favorite. Boston, which went 6-3 ATS during its winning streak, has been doing it with defense, holding nine of the last 13 opponents to 97 points or less. The Celtics currently rank third in the league in scoring defense, surrendering just 103.5 points per game.
About Brooklyn: The Nets have been scuffling big time with superstar Kevin Durant out with a knee injury, Kyrie Irving only playing road games (for now), and newly acquired Ben Simmons having yet to suit up. The result has been a 2-12 SU slump, punctuated by an 11-game losing skid from Jan. 23-Feb. 12. In its most recent game (prior to the All-Star break), Brooklyn lost to the Wizards 117-103 as a five-point home favorite. The Nets have surrendered 110 points or more in 22 of their last 27 games, including nine of 12 at home.
Notable Trends
- Boston is 5-2 ATS in its last seven road games
- Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last six as a road favorite
- Brooklyn is 3-1-1 ATS in its last four (following a 1-7-1 ATS slump)
- Brooklyn is 7-20-1 ATS at home this season (2-10-1 ATS last 13)
- Brooklyn is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four as an underdog
- Under is 9-4 in Boston’s last 13 overall and 5-2 in its last seven on the road
- Over is 5-1-1 in Brooklyn’s last seven overall
- Boston is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 visits to Brooklyn
- Over is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head battles
- Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Brooklyn
Boston Celtics Vs Brooklyn Nets Odds and Action
UPDATE 2:30 PM ET: Roughly two hours before tip-off, DraftKings has the Celtics at -9, which is up four points from the morning line of Boston -5. The total is also up a full point, from 213.5 this morning to 214.5. DraftKings bettors are largely siding with the visitors, as 62% of tickets and 78% of money are on the Celtics. Action on the total is similarly lopsided, with 75% of the wagers and 65% of the cash on the Over.
Atlanta Hawks Vs Chicago Bulls
Tipoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Hawks: 28-30 SU/26-32-0 ATS
Bulls: 38-21 SU/35-23-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Bulls -3.5/240.5
Last meeting: The Bulls pummeled Atlanta 131-117 as a 7.5-point home favorite (Dec. 29)
Did you know: Chicago owns the third-best ATS mark in the NBA, trailing only Oklahoma City (35-19-4 ATS) and Memphis (40-20 ATS)
About Atlanta: The Hawks entered the All-Star break with consecutive wins and spread-covers against the Cavaliers (124-116 as a 2.5-point home favorite) and Magic (130-109 as a 6-point road chalk). Prior to those victories, Atlanta had been in a 2-5 ATS slump, which itself followed a seven-game SU/ATS winning streak. The Hawks rank eighth in the league in scoring (112.2 points per game), right behind Chicago (112.6 ppg). However, they have the ninth-worst scoring defense in the league, giving up 111.8 ppg. Atlanta currently holds the 10th and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, one game ahead of Washington.
About Chicago: Despite injuries to three key guards — Lonzo Ball (knee), Alex Caruso (wrist), and Zach LaVine (knee) — the Bulls continue to roll. Chicago comes out of the break on a five-game winning streak (4-1 ATS) and is tied with Miami atop the Eastern Conference standings. While Ball and Caruso will remain sidelined until at least mid-March, LaVine is expected to return tonight after missing three games. The Bulls enter this contest having scored at least 120 points in 10 of their last 12 outings.
Notable Trends
- Atlanta is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 overall
- Atlanta is 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games
- Chicago is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 overall
- Chicago is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 at home
- Over is 4-1 in Atlanta’s last five overall
- Over is 9-3 in Chicago’s last 12 overall and last 12 at home
- Favorite is 7-0 SU/ATS in the last seven series meetings
- Eight straight meetings have been decided by double digits
- The straight-up winner has covered the point spread in each of the last 15 head-to-head meetings
- Under is 14-6 in the last 20 series clashes in Chicago
Atlanta Hawks Vs Chicago Bulls Odds and Action
UPDATE 2:30 PM ET: Early this morning, DraftKings had the Bulls pegged as a 4-point home chalk, but that line is now down to -3. Contrary to that movement, Chicago is getting massive support, with 84% of wagers and 82% of cash on Chicago. The total has steamed upward all day, rising from 234.5 this morning to its current peak of 240. Interestingly, ticket count at DraftKings is dead-even on the total (50% each way), though the Over is catching 62% of the money.
