Boston at Chicago

This has been a tremendously exciting series for fans of both teams, as well as basketball fans in general. There have been three games decided in OT and one other was a one-possession decision. Only one game out of five has been a blowout - that posted by this Celtics team. In any case, it's becoming aparrent that getting points is likely the way to go. The team getting the points here has covered four games, the favorite none, with one push. The Celtics are now 57-38 dating back to last season vs. teams that allow 100+ ppg. They are 25-11 ATS over that span as an underdog and 14-4 ATS on the road in games with a total between 195 and 200. This season they are 15-4 ATS coming off a close win by 6 points or less. Chicago is just 31-47 over the past two seasons after a game in which they covered the spread. I like the Celts to get the cover here. I also like the first-half UNDER. Boston is a defense-first team, and they know that playing in Chicago, they have to do the job on the defensive end, which they have so far. These teams have played UNDER the first-half total posted in this game in four of the five games played so far, including both games in Chicago. The Celts are 26-11 UNDER in the first-half the past two seasons when posted as an underdog. This season, they are 27-16 UNDER in the first-half on the road and 22-13 UNDER after scoring 105+ points. When they've scored 105+ in two straight games this season, they are 12-3 UNDER in the first-half the next game! Boston is the team that has the greater margin for error in this series, while things have to go well for the Bulls offensively to win. The Celtics have applied that well as the Bulls have averaged just 43 points per game in the last three in the first half. I like Boston with the points, and the first half UNDER in this one.