Bulls at Hawks NBA Picks – December 9, 2009: Wednesday night on ESPN, the Chicago Bulls will attempt to keep the Atlanta Hawks from winning back to back games in almost three weeks when the teams play at Phillips Arena in Atlanta with tipoff set for 7 p.m. ET.
NBA picks oddsmakers at SPORTSBETTING.com list the Hawks as 10 1/2-chalk ATS and -650 moneyline favorites versus the Bulls with a 196 total. Bulls backers are getting +475 odds as a road underdog.
After allowing an average of 114.5 points while splitting its previous two games against Toronto and New York, Atlanta (14-6) delivered its best defensive effort of the season in an 80-75 road win over Dallas on Saturday.
The Hawks held the Mavericks to 37.3 percent shooting from the floor, including 19 percent in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta is 3-4 since its season-high seven-game winning streak from Nov. 7-20,the last time the club won back-to-back games.
Though the Hawks overcame a 36.0-percent shooting night against Dallas, facing Chicago (7-12) could help them bounce back on the offensive end.
Atlanta is shooting 47.6 percent while averaging 113.3 points during its four-game winning streak against Chicago. The Hawks have won three in a row at home against the Bulls, who are 2-9 on the road and have lost six straight away from the United Center.
Johnson, averaging 21.5 points this season, had 41 on 16-of-31 shooting in the Hawks' 129-117 win over the Bulls in the teams' last meeting in Atlanta on Dec. 27.
NBA Picks: We like Atlanta SU but taking Chicago ATS +10 1/2 is the best value wager.
