Bulls vs. Knicks NBA Picks and Odds Breakdown for Monday (Archive)
The New York Knicks desperately want to make the play in the tournament and will need to beat the Chicago Bulls tonight if they want that to happen.
With only seven games left in the regular season, any loss virtually knocks them out of contention at this point. As for the Bulls, they’re trying to hold their current position after a poor second half of the season. Let’s see what the NBA odds for this matchup tell us!
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks
Monday, March 28, 2022 – 07:30 PM EDT at Madison Square Garden
Knicks Playoff Chances Very Slimly
The reality is the Knicks most likely won't be in the playoffs this year. At the moment, they are on the outside looking in at the play-in tournament.
They are 4.5 games behind Atlanta for 10th place in the Eastern Conference which is the final play in the spot.
Even if they somehow made it, they would play either Charlotte, Brooklyn, or Cleveland. The Knicks might have a chance against Charlotte but they aren't beating Brooklyn or Cleveland.
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Tonight the Bulls come into Madison Square Garden as -4.5 point favorites which is a big number considering the circumstances.
The Knicks are the desperate team in this situation and have managed to reel off three straight wins, all on the road.
They've won 8 of their last 12 games which is much better than Chicago's recent form. The first half odds opened at -2.5 but was quickly steamed down to -2 at most of the best online sportsbooks.
Bulls Need to Stop Bleeding
The Chicago Bulls were in first place in the Eastern Conference once upon a time this season. Everything changed after the All-Star break on both ends of the court.
As a result, the Bulls have gone 5-10 since then and have slipped all the way to 5th in the conference.
Before the break, the Bulls were 4th in offensive efficiency, since then they are 26th in that category.
Their defense before the break wasn't great (21st) but that too has deteriorated (23rd since the break) to the point where nobody knows what will happen to this team in the postseason.
The total for this game opened at 223.5 and has been streamed down all the way to 220 with some of the best online sportsbooks showing 219.5 as well.
If you like the under, it would seem like most of that value has gone. Both of the teams are close to .500 when it comes to totals with Chicago leaning slightly to the under (51.6% of their games) and the Knicks barely going over. (50.7%) on the season.
The first half total has not had nearly as much movement opening at 107.5 and now sits at 106.5 across the board.
There is some value here with the Bulls' first-half offense being one of the worst in the league since the All-Star break.
This is Chicago's fourth consecutive road game and they play again tonight in Washington.
First Half Under Has Value
For my NBA pick, my official play for tonight's game is Under 106.5 (-110) in the first half which is available at Bovada. If you like the under in this spot, jump on it soon because there are other books showing -115 as the price for the under which is an indication that the total is likely to drop even lower.
The Bulls might win this game but I don't think that they cover which is why I'm staying away from the spread.
I do see their first-half struggles continuing in the first half, especially with a hostile Knicks crowd. The atmosphere in the Garden has been strange this season with Knick fans booing their own players on several occasions.
I think this will be a low-scoring first half as both of these teams feel each other out.
NBA Pick: Under 106.5 (-110) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.