NBA Picks: Bulls vs Hawks NBA Odds – February 5, 2010: Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA, will be the sight for tonight’s Eastern Conference clash between the (23-24) Chicago Bulls [+8] and the sports betting odds favorite (31-17) Atlanta Hawks [-8]. This NBA Picks game’s opening tipoff is slated for after 8 PM on the East (7 PM CT) and it will be the first of a Friday NBA double-header on ESPN. For those of you interested in betting on the OVER/UNDER, NBA Odds makers at SBGGLOBAL.com have projected the Bulls and Hawks to combine for a total of 196½ points.
For the Bulls, the last time they were here back in December, Atlanta handed them their worst defeat of the season. Chicago will also be looking to bounce back after consecutive loses. On Tuesday, the Bulls were defeated 90-82 by the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by a 106-103 overtime-road loss at Philly.
"We didn't have the energy we've had in past road games," said guard John Salmons. "We have to make sure we stay focused from beginning to end."
For the surging Hawks, they come into this game having won eight of their last nine games in this building and are 20-5 at home on the season. One guy that certainly likes facing against Chicago is Joe Johnson.
Of his four career 40-point games, the 4-time NBA All Star has registered three of those against these Bulls. Johnson has also averaged almost 26 points per contest over his last 12 games. "It's ridiculous how much he was scoring," fellow All-Star, Al Horford said. "He just goes about it like a business."
