Vaughn Dalzell breaks down his two best bets on Tuesday’s slate, including the Bulls at the Celtics, and the Knicks hosting the Hornets.
Hornets at Knicks (-12): O/U 221.5
The Knicks and Hornets meet for the third time this season, New York won the first 129-107 and 122-108 the second time.
I am fading the Hornets’ offense after losing LaMelo Ball to injury and are now working guys like Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges back into the rotation alongside Gordon Hayward and P.J. Washington.
The Knicks rank fourth in opponents points per game allowed at home (103.7), fifth in three-point defensive percentage (33.2%), and second in free-throw attempts (18.3).
New York has allowed only one of seven teams to score more than 108 points at Madison Square Garden this season and already held the Hornets to 107 points in New York.
I played Charlotte’s Team Total Under 104.5 at -115 odds and would go down to 102.5. These two teams know each pretty well other at this point and the Knicks are coming off a loss, which is a positive sitation to back New York’s defense.
Pick: Hornets Team Total Under 104.5 (1u)
Bulls at Celtics (-13.5): O/U 220.5
The Bulls and Celtics meet in Boston for a lopsided game as Chicago doesn’t have much going right amid a 1-6 stretch.
The Bulls scored between 100 and 109 points in the last four games, all losses, and 102, 97, and 94 points in the three games prior. Chicago is in sell mode regarding Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic.
Either of the three can be playing their final game as Bulls any day now, so backing this team isn’t wise. Boston held Atlanta to 103 points on Sunday and their opponents to 106 or fewer in 10 out of 17 games, so I don’t like Chicago’s offensive situation.
The Celtics rank 5th with 104.7 points per game allowed to opponents at home this season and third in opponent field goal percentage (42.7%), plus opponent free throw attempts (18.4).
I played Chicago’s Team Total Under 102.5 at -115 odds down to 100.5. Chicago averages 106.0 points per game on the road, which ranks second-worst.
Pick: Bulls Team Total Under 102.5 (1u)
Season Record: 11-4 (73.3%) +7.35 units
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