The Bulls find themselves as 1.5-point home underdogs here and I think they’ve got a good shot to cover. This is a classic case of betting numbers and not teams.
Phoenix are getting all of the action here, receiving 70% of the early money. While they’re probably the better of these two sides, I’m not sure they should be road favourites.
I also like the reverse line movement angle, which has seen the line move in Chicago’s favour despite receiving the minority of the bets. This suggests that the sharps are really on the Bulls here, likely due to the perceived line value.
Both sides are facing a myriad of injuries, but Phoenix appear decimated in the frontcourt right now. Baynes, Saric, and Ayton are all on the injury report and will find it tough to suit up on a back-to-back.
Overall, this is a game where the line should probably be flipped. The Bulls have a solid chance to win and I’ll take them plus the points.
I’m going with another contrarian play here, taking Houston as road underdogs in Utah. They’re getting only 28% of the early action, but I believe they’ve got a few advantages here.
Their injury report is essentially empty, while Utah could very well be without Mike Conley here. They also enter this clash after a back-to-back, while Houston are rested after a blowout win over Golden State.
I also think the Rockets will be motivated for revenge, after suffering a controversial close loss on Feb 10th. They’ve got the ability to really run in transition, which could upset Utah’s traditional big lineups.
Combine the rest and health advantage with a strong road record and I think Houston has a chance at the upset here. I’ll gladly take them plus the points in this spot.