NBA Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls – Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024

The Chicago Bulls (12-15) and Boston Celtics (21-5) will meet for the second time this season when they play on Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM ET at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. For this NBA betting opportunity, the Celtics are favored with a point spread at -14.5 (-110).

Chicago Bulls Betting Preview

The Bulls have won their last two games and have solid momentum entering this match. Their previous successful bout was a 122-121 outing over the Toronto Raptors.

Nikola Vucevic led with 24 points and Colby White was right behind him with 19 to help push along the offense. The team had a huge 42-point burst in the third quarter, but they allowed the Raptors to have a 37-point performance in the fourth to gain back some of that power. Luckily, they bounced their way a few more times than for the Raptors to get it done.

Both teams shot a little over 46.0 percent from the field and roughly 35.0 percent from three. The key difference here was turnovers, as the Bulls had 12 and forced the Raptors to have 18.

The Bulls are the sixth-best team in the league when it comes to points at 118.9 a game. On defense, they rank 29th in allowing 121.9 points from opponents. This is a slightly negative margin, which will pose a problem here.

Boston Celtics Betting Preview

The Celtics have won four out of their last five games and are 4-1 in this stretch. Their latest win was a 112-98 performance over the Washington Wizards, marking their second battle where they held a team under 100 points.

Jayson Tatum led with 28 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. They have dominated the Wizards this season, averaging 114.0 points and holding them to 98.6 points in three games so far.

The Celtics were able to convert on more scoring opportunities, as they shot 43.0 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three. They held the Wizards to 40.4 percent field goal shooting and 32.5 percent from deep.

Their offense ranks third in the league for putting up 119.9 points a game. On the defensive end, the Celtics rank seventh in allowing their opponents to score 109.8 points a game. This spread has worked for them this season, which could be a sign of another title run.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie offers the NBA betting odds for the Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics matchup. These odds reflect the Celtics as 14.5-point favorites. Market predictions suggest the Celtics have an 82.0 percent chance of winning.

The Celtics will likely not toy around with keeping this close since they know the Bulls can turn it on at any moment. Look for the Celtics to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Boston Celtics -14.5 (-110)