NBA Basketball Matchup: Bulls vs Pacers
The Chicago Bulls need just one win in their final two games to clinch the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago Bulls (48-16) vs Indiana Pacers (42-23)
Wednesday April 25
Conseco Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
7:00PM
Moneyline: no line currently posted
Spread: Bulls -2.5
O/U: 189
Chicago
With a road tilt against the Pacers and a home game against Cleveland I think they have a good shot and it could be the difference it what appears to be an inevitable showdown with Miami.
The question is what are they willing to risk to get it. Derrick Rose is back and he is way more important to this team’s chances than an extra game at the United Center.
The Bulls and Pacers have split a pair of games in this short season. The faced off last year’s playoffs with the Bulls prevailing but it looks like that would only be a conference finals matchup this year – and an unexpected one. I like the Bulls chances even if they really don’t test their regulars.
This team has developed good depth this year and this is a game where that could show.
Indiana
It is a little hard to believe that the Indiana Pacers are the third best team in the Eastern Conference – but their record doesn’t lie. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They have been on a tear in April with a 12-2 record and just a single game to go. The Pacers might not have the star power of some other top teams but they are equally good on offense (11th) and defense (10th) with a deepish roster featuring young players who might not be as worn out by the compressed season as others.
With nothing to gain it is hard to know how much regulars will play in their season finale – sorry if you have tickets.
The one saving grace is that the Pacers might want to show the Bulls that they can compete with them by finishing the year with a win. Indiana has been a bad ATS play all season and there is no reason to get behind them in this odd situation.
Too many unknown variables.
Spread Pick:
O/U Pick:
Score Prediction: Chicago 89 – Indiana 85
