The Chicago Bulls (22-17) make the short trip up to Milwaukee tonight with hopes of extending their winning streak to three when they play the Bucks (17-20) in a game between NBA Central Division Rivals. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Chicago is favored in the game by a -5.0 chalk according to offshore sportsbook Bodog.com. The total is currently set at 192.
Bulls coach Scott Skiles has penciled in Ben Gordon as the starter tonight in place of slumping Chris Duhon. The third-year guard made 17 of 28 short (60.7 percent) and averaged 22.0 points as Chicago posted home wins over Memphis and San Antonio in a three-day span. Gordon went 9-for-18 form the field and scored 20 points as the bulls beat the Spurs 99-87 on Monday. Bet on the Bulls at Bodog for Instant Cash Bonuses!
Fellow starting guard Kirk Hinrich appears to enjoy playing alongside Gordon, recording his second straight solid game with 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists against San Antonio. He’s 16-for-29 (55.2 percent) from the floor with 15 assists, 13 rebounds and just four turnovers in the last two contests.
“I have been feeling good the last few games. I kind of gotten back to myself, playing aggressive on both ends and I think my floor game has been a lot better,” said Hinrich, who also had an excellent game defensively in limiting Spurs guard Tony Parker to six points and two assists.
Click here for Live NBA Point Spreads
Hinrich’s counterpart at point guard Tuesday will be 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins, who’s still getting acclimated to playing with Milwaukee after being acquired from Denver last week. Boykins is making quick adjustments and had 30 points and four assists in Milwaukee’s 99-91 win at Charlotte on Monday that snapped a season-high five-game losing streak.
The Bucks, shorthanded without their injured starting backcourt of leading scorer Michael Redd and top playmaker Mo Williams have remained competitive thanks to the inspired play of Boykins and seven-footer Andrew Bogut. The second-year Australian center had 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists Monday.
Bogut has recorded double-doubles in his last three games, averaging 21.3 points and 17.7 rebounds while shooting 65.9 percent (29-for-44) from the field. He struggled in his first two games against the Bulls this season, totaling just 10 points and nine rebounds in a pair of losses.
Bet on the Bulls vs Bucks at Bodog.com for Instant Cash Bonuses!
The Bulls have covered ATS in their last 6-of-10 games while the UNDER also cashed on the total in the last 6-of-10 games.
The Bucks, while only winning four of their last 10 games straight up have split their last 10 ATS 5-5 and the total also split at 5-5.
