Bulls at Celtics NBA Picks: Thursday night (8 pm ET,TNT) the Boston Celtics will host the Chicago Bulls, the team that took them to the brink in last seasons playoffs. Boston (27-10) opened 2009-10 in impressive fashion, winning 23 of its first 28 games to move to the top of the Eastern Conference, but a rash of injuries to its top players suddenly spoiled that fast start.
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace and Rajon Rondo have all missed time over the past 2 1/2 weeks with the Celtics dropping five of nine. Pierce and Rondo have since returned, but Garnett (right knee) and Wallace (sore left foot) could be out another week.
The Celtics have already overpowered the Bulls twice this season. Boston led by as many as 31 in a 118-90 victory over the Bulls on Oct. 30, and had seven players in double figures in a 106-80 win in Chicago on Dec. 12.
The Bulls (16-20) arrive in Boston having won back-to-back games, but both were against lesser opponents.
Following Saturday's 110-96 win over Minnesota, Chicago defeated Detroit 120-87 on Monday, setting a season high in points and largest margin of victory. Chicago covered as 6-point home favorites, while the game played OVER the 194-point total set by Bodog oddsmakers. The Celtics covered the 8-point spread, and the combined score made it OVER the posted total of 189.
Pierce and Rondo led the Celtics to an easy 111-87 win over league-worst New Jersey on Wednesday. Pierce had 24 points in 28 minutes, while Rondo finished with 11 points and 14 assists for Boston, which led 71-35 at halftime and allowed most of its starters to rest after the break.
NBA Picks: The Celtics won their previous two games versus Chicago by a 28 and 28 points. Why go against such a solid trend. We like the Celtics at home as a 6 1/2-point favorite.
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