NBA Picks: Celtics vs Bulls NBA Odds – April 13, 2010: Trying to hold on to the last spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff standings, the (39-41) Chicago Bulls [-4] will have to defeat the team that eliminated them in last year’s postseason, the (50-30) Boston Celtics [+4] in order to do so. This intraconference battle tips off tonight at 8:10 PM ET (7:10 PM CT) live from the United Center on TNT Sports. The OVER/UNDER mark in this Celtics vs Bulls game NBA Odds game is set at a combined total of 197½ points scored.
With a 104-88 victory at Toronto, the Bulls overtook the Raptors for the 8th and final postseason spot on Sunday. Derrick Rose led the way for Chi-Town with 26 points along with a gutsy performance by Joakim Noah. The Bulls young center finished with a nice double-double (18 points and 19 rebounds) and tied a career-high seven assists.
“I knew it was a really important game, I was really focused,” Noah said. “I just wanted to go out there and impose my will as much as I could, just be aggressive offensively and defensively.”
For the Celtics, they have already clinched the Atlantic Division. Cemented in the fourth spot when the Hawks defeated Milwaukee on Monday night, Boston won its third game in eight tries, also ousting the Bucks, 105-90. Paul Pierce led the way for the C’s with 24 points, 18 of which came after intermission.
"It was a big win. I wish we could come out like this every night," Pierce said. "We have to get some momentum going as we head into the playoffs."
