Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks: Betting odds and prediction
For the second time in three days, the Chicago Bulls are getting set to take on the Atlanta Hawks. The Bulls and Hawks faced each other in the back end of back-to-back games for Chicago on Dec. 27. That meeting between these two teams came in Atlanta. Now, the Bulls and Hawks will square off in the second of two meetings this week at the United Center in Chicago on the night of Dec. 29.
The Bulls will be looking to extend their winning streak to five games if they can top the Hawks on this night. After beating the Hawks by a score of 130-118 on Dec. 27, the Bulls are sitting on a four-game winning streak with a record of 21-10. That is good for second place in the Eastern Conference standings, still only behind the Brooklyn Nets.
Meanwhile, the Hawks come into this game sporting a record of 15-18. The Hawks are also 7-9 in road contests so far this season. It is also worth noting that the Hawks have lost four of their last five games heading into this meeting with the Bulls on Dec. 29.
Here’s a look at the betting odds and game prediction as the Bulls take on the Hawks for the second of two meetings this week at home at the United Center in Chicago, with tip-off time set for 7 p.m. CT on Dec. 29.
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks betting odds
According to WynnBet, the Bulls are eight-point favorites over the Hawks ahead of tip-off for this game. And the over/under is set at 223 points.
The ESPN matchup predictor gives the Bulls a 66.0 percent chance to beat the Hawks.
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks prediction
This game should be the Bulls’ to lose. This is about the closest to full strength that the Bulls were throughout the month of December. The star trio of shooting guard Zach LaVine, shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan, and center Nikola Vucevic, is now back together and performing well.
Vucevic, in particular, is elevating his game of late. And that is translating to more success in the win column for this team. If the duo of LaVine and Vucevic continues to play as well as they have in the last couple of games, the Bulls are going to be an extremely difficult team for anyone to beat.
Coming off one of his two or three best games of the season, Vucevic is an x-factor in this meeting with the Hawks. He’s found his shot and is still contributing at a high level in terms of protecting the rim and rebounding of late.
The key to this game for the Bulls will be limiting the effectiveness of the Hawks’ star point guard Trae Young and getting the duo of LaVine and Vucevic going right from the tip-off.
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This is a winnable game for the Bulls, and could keep them right in line to challenge the Nets for the top seed in the East. It is also worth noting that the Bulls still hold a slight edge over the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks for the top spot in the Central Division.