New York (34-28 SU, 39-22-1 ATS) looks like a lock to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013, but the Knicks are still battling with Atlanta for a top-four seed in the East. New York shoots for its 10th win in 11 games when it hosts the Bulls (26-35, 32-28-1), who enter action one game out of a play-in berth.
- Date/Time: April 28, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Madison Square Garden
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Sportsbook Odds: Knicks -4.5 | O/U 206.5 (Line History)
- Bulls vs Knicks Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Despite the Knicks’ recent hot streak, they’ve been favored by more than 4 points just once since March 18. Over the past three seasons, New York is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS when laying 4 points or more.
Chicago News & Notes
The Bulls have managed to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race without leading scorer Zach LaVine, who is expected to miss his eighth consecutive game Wednesday due to COVID-19 protocols. Chicago is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five games without LaVine, including Monday’s 110-102 win at Miami as a 5.5-point underdog.
Chicago has been doing it with defense, allowing 102 points or less in four of those five contests and going 3-2 to the UNDER during that span. But while the Bulls offense has struggled a bit without LaVine in the lineup, it hasn’t affected Nikola Vucevic’s numbers that much. The recently acquired center, who led Chicago with 24 points Monday, is scoring a point less per game while LaVine has been out but is averaging one rebound more per contest.
Daniel Theis also stepped up Monday with his best outing as a Bull, scoring 23 points and adding 12 rebounds and five assists. Guard Coby White continued his recent run of solid scoring performances with 17, the sixth time in seven games that he’s had at least 14 points.
New York News & Notes
The Knicks’ longest winning streak in nearly a decade was snapped Monday with a 118-110 loss to Phoenix at MSG. New York opened the game by hitting seven of its first eight shots and led by 15 points in the second quarter before the Suns stormed back to outscore the Knicks 62-47 in the second half.
Julius Randle had a rare off night offensively, perhaps showing signs of fatigue to overcome a series of Phoenix double-teams. Randle, the NBA’s minutes leader who is considered a front-runner for the league’s Most Improved Player award, missed 11 of his 17 shots from the field and finished with 18 points. Randle had scored at least 30 points in six of his previous seven outings, including a pair of games in which he scored 40 or more.
R.J. Barrett also struggled from the field, shooting 7-for-18, but Derrick Rose picked up the slack off the bench with 22 points. The Knicks have scored at least 110 points in seven of their last eight games, going 7-1 to the OVER during that span. New York is also 7-1 ATS in its last eight games at home and 12-1 ATS in its last 13 overall.
Betting Pick: Bulls +5.5
Chicago has been a tough out as a road dog all season, going 12-2 ATS when catching at least 5 points away from home, and should bring a strong effort once again.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- The OVER is 6-2 in the Bulls’ last 8 road games.
- New York is 12-1 ATS in its last 13 games.
- New York is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 at home vs Chicago.
