Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Clippers Point Spread Picks

The LA Clippers' record is quite deceiving. This team had high aspirations for this season, but went 3-16 over an early-season 19-game stretch. The team, after that bad start, has actually been very good. The Clippers are playing at a quick pace, and they are hot right now, winning six of their last seven games, but notice the score. The Clippers' last five games show them at 5-0 to the OVER. The Bulls have fallen apart as they are just 4-17 in their last 21 games. The Bulls have gone 2-0 to the OVER in their last two games, and are ready to ramp up tonight. Play OVER the total.

Los Angeles is eighth in the league in points surrendered. That defense has keyed a six-game winning streak, along with winning 13 of 15. The Clippers are on a 14-10 run UNDER the total. Chicago plays its second straight at home, after a win over the Nets, allowing 102 points. The Bulls are on a 16-9 run UNDER the total. Play Los Angeles/Chicago UNDER the total. 

The Chicago Bulls continue to ride on the edge of the play-in round. The Bulls are just 23-35 on the season, but in the top-heavy Eastern Conference, that would get them into the play-in round if the postseason started today. The Bulls are not doing a lot of defending lately, and that has caused the oddsmakers to really pad their totals. The Clippers have allowed just one of their last six opponents to score more than 116 points, and this game means a lot for both teams. I expect this one play out more defensively than either team's recent games. Make the play UNDER the total.

There is a good chance the LA Clippers come into this game flat. They just beat their rival, the LA Lakers, soundly by 14 points. The Clippers have had a relatively good season, but they have only been 5-5 in their last 10 games. Surprisingly, the Bulls would be in the NBA East play-in round if the season ended today. This is despite five straight losses. I seriously doubt the Clippers bring their "A" game after leaving it all on the floor vs the Lakers their last time out. The Bulls losing streak gives them some value here because they are better than their previous five games. Make the play on the Chicago Bulls.

Los Angeles has won and covered the past three meetings, including 112-102 on Saturday when the Clippers shot 50 percent and Paul George led six double-figure scorers with 22 points. The Clippers lost their next two against Milwaukee and Minnesota, but they have covered five of seven as road favorites of 5.0-10.5 points and Chicago has covered the number just once its past five home games. The Bulls are playing their seventh game in an 11-day span and five of those were on the road. Also, Chicago is playing a back-to-back after having to go overtime to defeat Indiana 132-129 last night when DeMar DeRozan scored 46 points for the Bulls. Lay the points with the Clippers - Max Play.