The Chicago Bulls, losers of their last two games straight up and against the spread, enter into tonight’s home game at the United Center as -9 ½ point favorites to beat the Southeast Division cellar dweller Atlanta Hawks. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. EST.
All of the major offshore sportsbooks are offering the 9 ½ point side bet with 186 ½ points on the total. BetUS.com and Bodog.com is offering a half point lower total at 186.
The Hawks are zero-for-two-seasons against the Bulls having lost eight-straight in the series. Tonight Chicago will try to win its ninth straight over Atlanta.
Both squads have dropped back-to-back contests following a three-game winning streak, but Chicago seems to have a better chance of getting back on track. The Bulls have won eight in a row versus the Hawks by an average margin of 10.3 points and haven’t lost to Atlanta since a 116-101 defeat on April 9, 2004.
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Ben Gordon led the way for Chicago on Monday by scoring 31 points, but he didn’t get enough help as the Bulls fell 98-91 to the Indiana Pacers. Luol Deng added 18-points and eight rebounds and Kirk Hinrich had 14 before fouling out late in the game, but Ben Wallace and P.J. Brown combined for only 10 points and eight rebounds. Gordon’s effort surpassed the 30 point mark for the sixth time this season.
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The Hawks averaged 101.3 points during the winning streak but have managed just 80 points per game in their last two defeats. Atlanta’s leading scorer Joe Johnson scored 22 points Saturday and Marvin Williams added 20, but the Hawks were forced to play more than half the game without starting forward Josh Smith. Smith was ejected for arguing an offensive foul late in the second quarter and raised both middle fingers to the crowd as he was halfway through the tunnel after apparently being heckled by fans.
