Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 22/02/2024, 06:50  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 22/02/2024 at 06:51 in NBA Predictions

The Boston Celtics will travel to the United Center to face off against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA on Thursday night. The hosts are currently 26-29 and ninth in their Eastern Conference, while the visitors are 43-12 and lead the Conference standings. 

The Boston Celtics have been on fire lately, winning eight of their last nine games. They are now aiming for their seventh consecutive victory following a dominant 136-86 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets before the break, where Payton Pritchard led the scoring with an impressive 28 points off the bench, shooting 11 of 16 from the field, while Derrick White contributed 27 points, including five from beyond the arc. Boston ranks fifth in the NBA for scoring, averaging 120.7 points per game, 7.8 fewer than Chicago allows. On the defensive end, they have been equally impressive, allowing just 110.6 points per game, which ranks them fifth in the league. The Celtics have had the upper hand in their recent meetings with the Chicago Bulls, winning their last two encounters. However, they might be without Jaden Springer due to injury for the upcoming game.

The Chicago Bulls have been relatively consistent, splitting their last ten games. However, they will want to bounce back from a narrow 108-105 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 14th. Coby White led the Bulls with a stellar 32-point performance, backed by seven rebounds and four assists. DeMar DeRozan also made a significant contribution with 24 points and six assists, shooting nine of 16 from the field. Chicago ranks 24th in the NBA for scoring, averaging 111.8 points per game, 1.2 points more than the Celtics typically concede. Defensively, they have been solid, allowing 112.9 points per game, which places them 11th in the league. The Bulls have faced some setbacks due to injuries. Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine are out for the season, Torrey Craig sustained an injury over the All-Star weekend, and Patrick Williams is also ruled out for the upcoming match due to injury.