These two teams have alternated wins so far in this series and with it coming down to a best-of-three right now, winning Game 5 is crucial to both sides. San Antonio has the initial advantage being at home but the first two games in this building were anything but easy for the Spurs.

Game 1 they needed a tremendous comeback in the 4th just to force OT, eventually pulling it out while in Game 2 they were blasted by the Warriors shooters in a 100-91 Golden State win. The Spurs have improved their defense against Golden State in each game and while many believe that will continue in Game 5, I think we see both teams get out and start hitting shots again.

Since the Game 1 OT game, we have seen the totals drop in each contest. Game 2 saw the line at 205, Game 3 closed at 201.5 and Game 4 was bet down all the way to 198. We now have a number (195) that is 10 points lower than the last time these two met in this building and I believe it is too much of an adjustment.

Many believe that the older Spurs don’t want to get out and run with the Warriors but San Antonio has had no issues playing fast all year. Yes they’ve done a marvelous job in adjusting game in and game out, slowing down Stephen Curry, but it’s San Antonio’s offense that has a few questions that need to be answered after they were nearly shutout in OT of Game 4. The Spurs showed they can beat Golden State in a track meet-type game and being back at home I think their shooters start to finally knock down shots at a more consistent rate.

Golden State will get their points too and will want to push the pace all night after they had tremendous success in Games 1 and 2. The demons of losing 29 in a row in San Antonio are gone after that Game 2 win and this young team might actually benefit from not fully knowing the situation they are in and going out there playing free and loose. I’m not sure it will be enough to steal another game in San Antonio, but no matter who wins this one sails ‘over’ the total.

NBA Playoff Prediction on Warriors vs Spurs Game 5: Take the over.

The Bucks enter the playoffs losing eight of their last ten. The Bucks went 4-12 over their final 16 games and struggled on the defensive end while getting inconsistent production from Jennings and Ellis on the perimeter. Jennings went 1-for-11 from the field in a home loss to Denver in the next-to-last game of the season but had one of his best games with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting in a 94-83 loss at Miami on April 9. That marked the only time in Milwaukee’s final 22 games that he shot better than 50 percent from the floor. Where the Bucks excel is on the glass. Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova and John Henson will try to keep LeBron James off the boards and out of transition. Milwaukee will try to pick at the Heat’s lone weakness on the glass while Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings attempt to wear them out on the perimeter.

The Heat enters winning nine of their last ten games. Dwyane Wade returned over the final two games and looked sharp with 21 points and 10 assists on Wednesday. The Heat are the favorites to repeat as champion and have done little to make anyone doubt that prognostication. Miami finished the season with wins in 37 of its final 39 games and ranks in the top five in both points scored and points allowed.

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Miami has the best player in the game in James and put together the second-longest winning streak in NBA history with 27 straight that included 107-94 triumph at Milwaukee on March 15. Anything less than back-to-back titles will be a disappointment for the Heat. Miami’s biggest worry on Sunday will be how the team comes together after so many of the regulars took multiple games off and did not get a chance to play together down the stretch. The Heat should be able to shake off that rust by halftime in their own building, where they posted an Eastern Conference-best 37-4 record. James just finished up a regular season in which he shot 56.5 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. He went 11-for-16 from the field in the April 9 win over the Bucks and has averaged 29.4 points on 50.1 percent shooting against Milwaukee in his career.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Miami.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Miami.
Under is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
Bucks are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Bucks are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Southeast.
Bucks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
Heat are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Sunday games.
Heat are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Heat are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Heat are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Heat are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
Heat are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat
When: Sunday, April 21, 2012@7:00 PM ET
Pick: Heat -16500

The Bucks don’t stand a chance against the Heat.We recommend you sign up with Bovada.lv to receive a 10% sign up bonus heading into the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers enter the playoffs winning eight of their last ten games. They are enormous underdogs in this series, but they have the size to matchup with the Spurs. Unfortunately without Kobe Bryant, I think what could have been a series win is just going to lead to maybe one or two single wins and then elimination for the Lakers.

Few teams have two talented and skilled bigs as the Lakers do with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, and they need to force the ball into the post offensively to punish the Spurs inside. Tim Duncan is only one defender, and isn’t to be feared as he has in seasons past. If San Antonio doubles, the Lakers need to swing the ball to the open shooters on the perimeter and knock down the open looks, especially from three-point distance.

The Lakers offense averages 105.6ppg (8th in NBA), while their defense gives up an average 103.5ppg (18th in NBA).

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The Spurs enter the playoffs losing seven of their last ten. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have both missed extensive time recently due to injury, but the Spurs are expected to have their full complement of players available when the series tips off on Sunday.

The Lakers are struggling to find an offensive identity with Kobe Bryant sidelined due to injury, and the Spurs need to keep it that way. L.A. shot just 36.7 percent from the field in an overtime win over the Rockets, and the Spurs should be able to cause many more problems for L.A. defensively than Houston ever could in its wildest dreams.

Tony Parker had an MVP-type season for the Spurs, and made the offense go at a level very few teams can replicate from the point guard position. If Parker can perform as he has when healthy earlier this season, his dribble penetration should cause a world of pain for a Lakers team that has struggled with its defensive rotations for the entire season.

The Spurs offense averages 105.9ppg (7th in NBA), while their defense allows 99.2ppg (3rd in NBA).

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Under is 21-7 in the last 28 meetings.
Under is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in San Antonio.
Lakers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in San Antonio.
Lakers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
Spurs are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Pacific.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

LA Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs
When: Sunday, April 21, 2012@3:30 PM ET
Pick: Spurs -2000

2013 NBA Playoff Prediction on the Lakers vs Spurs Series: easy money on Spurs. They don’t lose on home court.

San Antonio has a history of losing playoff series in recent years where it has been favored to win, but this Lakers team doesn’t seem to have the right combination of players playing at a high enough level at the right time to continue that trend.

The Warriors Andrew Bogut is dealing a sore ankle but should be ready to go for game one. Draymond Green (knee tendonitis) and Andris Biedrins (lower back tightness) both missed the Warriors’ season finale, but both should also be fine to play in this series. Brandon Rush missed the entire season with a torn ACL and remains sidelined.

The Warriors offer the more diverse offense and should be able to put stress on the Nuggets through that varied attack. With Lee and Carl Landry working the interior and Curry, Thompson, and Jack working the perimeter, the Warriors can bring a balance that the Nuggets should have trouble containing. Add in Warriors’ coach Mark Jackson’s penchant for attacking the mismatch until the opposing team finds a way to stop it, and the formula is there for Golden State to give Denver fits on the offensive side of the ball.

David Lee is the Warriors’ All-Star and against the Nuggets he’s going to have to play like it for them to advance. Lee offers a multi-faceted game that can be used to bludgeon the undersized Kenneth Faried, but he must be assertive in working his way into the post rather than just floating around the perimeter as a jump shooter and faciltator. Lee’s rebounding will also be key as the Nuggets are one of the best at corralling their own misses and getting second chance points.

The Warriors offense averages 104.2ppg (10th in NBA), and on defense they give up an average 102.6ppg (13th in NBA)

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The Nuggets big injury is the torn ACL that will keep Danilo Gallinari out for this series and entire playoffs. Kenneth Faried is nursing a sprained ankle which kept him out of Denver’s final 2 regular season games, but is hopeful he can return for game one.

On any given night any one of a handful of players can carry the mantle as Denver’s “best”, but Lawson will need to consistently be that guy for the Nuggets in this series. With Curry attacking him on one end, Lawson will need to give as much (or more) than he receives in the battle at the point. Lawson will need to push the pace, get into the lane, hit his jumper, and create for his teammates out of the pick and roll and when working in isolation. If he does all those things while not getting destroyed on defense, this series tilts Denver’s way rather clearly.

The Nuggets were 29th in the league in both opponent three point field goals allowed and three point field goals made. Meanwhile, the Warriors led the league in three point field goal percentage and were 8th in total threes made. Needless to say, if the Nuggets allow the Warriors to simply camp behind the arc and shoot the long ball, they will be in trouble as Curry, Klay Thompson, Jarrett Jack and company roast them.

The Nuggets offense averages 107.6ppg (5th best in NBA), and on defense they allow an average 102.0ppg (11th in NBA).

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Denver.
Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Nuggets are 10-1-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Nuggets are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Pacific.

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets
When: Saturday, April 20, 2012@5:30 PM ET
Pick: Nuggets -430

The Nuggets are nearly unbeatable at home and I think they’re going to use that advantage to it’s fullest by claiming all four home games.

The Celtics Rajon Rondo won’t play in this series, but his absence will loom over the Celtics’ offensive proceedings in every game. They have no ballhandler or primary decision-maker to replace injured All-Star Rondo. Midseason pickups Jordan Crawford, Shavlik Randolph and Terrence Williams don’t have a wealth of playoff experience with the Celtics, and will be taken advantage of by the Knicks.

Avery Bradley remains an all-world defender, and he should match up nicely with J.R. Smith’s whims. Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony will be allowed to bang away at the elbow and mid-post, with no capable NBA referee wanting to put either superstar in foul trouble. And though Garnett won’t break the bank minutes-wise, he will be playing two-thirds of the game in the postseason, as has been the case throughout his Boston career. It remains the truth that the Boston’s Celtics will be a different team in the playoffs.

Boston dominated the Knicks in head-to-head competition for years, but this year’s Knicks team has put an end to that with three straight wins both SU and ATS.

The Knicks Amare Stoudemire has been out following right knee surgery but may be back for this series. Tyson Chandler is battling a bulging disc in his neck but will play. Carmelo Anthony has a sore shoulder but will play. Kenyon Martin has knee issues but is expected play. Pablo Prigioni is questionable for Game 1 with a sprained right ankle. Marcus Camby is coming off a foot injury. Basically all the older Knicks players have some pains but most will play.

The Knicks offense averages 108.6ppg (3rd best in NBA), and on defense 103.5ppg (17th in NBA). Carmelo Anthony is getting MVP votes not because he won the league’s scoring title (28.7ppg) but because he did the other things he didn’t used to do as much — share the ball, defend, play team basketball.

The Knicks can still swarm and steal with the best of them defensively on the turnover front, though, and they rarely turn the ball over on the offensive end. Sadly for Boston, this would seem to be the advantage for New York, here.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Celtics are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New York.
Road team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Celtics are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Knicks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Knicks are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Knicks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Knicks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Knicks are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 vs. Eastern Conference.
Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Atlantic.

Boston Celtics vs NY Knicks
When: Saturday, April 20, 2012@3:00 PM ET
Pick: Knicks -340

While all signs point to a very manageable series for the Knicks, the playoff experience and the pride on the Boston Celtics side cannot be understated. It is hard to see a team with this much veteran leadership going down without at least a little bit of a fight.

The Thunder (55-20, 22-15 V) beat San Antonio 100-88, at home, on Thursday night. Russell Westbrook scored 27 points, while Kevin Durant had 25. Derek Fisher hit a season-high five 3-pointers and had 17 points, his most since joining OKC in late February. Fisher had been 9 for 31 on 3s in his first 17 games with OKC. Serge Ibaka had 11 points and 11 boards for Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City has played its preferred starting five in 72 of 75 games.

David West paced the Pacers with 21 points and nine rebounds. Paul George had 17 points and George Hill added 15. Despite just 10 first-half points, Kevin Durant led all scorers with 27 points on 9-of-24 shooting. Kevin Martin scored 22 of his 24 points in the first half and Russell Westbrook contributed 21 points. Against a quick and challenging team, the Pacers only turned the ball over seven times.

The Pacers nearly pulled off a monumental road win, getting to within three of the Thunder with five minutes to play. However, the Pacers could not hit a shot the final 5:26 and were outscored 10-2 to close the game in a 104-93 loss on Dec. 9.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now. The Pacers (48-27, 29-8 H) won in LA against the Clippers 1090106, on Monday night. Roy Hibbert scored 15 of his 26 points in the first quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds before fouling out. Paul George added 23 points and 10 assists. All five Pacers starters scored in double figures, with David West getting 16 and backcourt mates Lance Stephenson and George Hill chipping in with 13 apiece.

The Pacers have been dominate at home all season long and they have had three days off to rest and prepare for tonight’s game. While the Thunder are one of the elite teams in the NBA, they haven’t been great on the road against some of the better home teams.

The Pacers are one of the top three defensive teams in the league and have been all season long, but they have picked up their offense in a big way lately as they are averaging 105 points per game over their last five games, which is 10 points up from their season average. The last nine meetings between the two have all easily gone over.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Over is 9-0 in the last 9 meetings in Indiana.
Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.
Underdog is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Pacers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Thunder are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers
When: Friday, April 5, 2012@8:00 PM ET
Pick: Pacers -2.5

The Bottom Line: The Thunder are playing back to back, while the Pacers are well rested and playing at home. We recommend you sign up with Sportsbook.com to receive a 10% sign up bonus heading into the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers game.

Chicago Bulls over BROOKLYN NETS on Thursday, April 4th at 7pm EST – The Brooklyn Nets are back home at the Barclay’s Center after picking up their 21st road win of the season. Unfortunately that record won’t save them at home when they host the Bulls. The pencil-thin Nets are a worrisome 3-9 ATS during their last 12 games at home, and are a curious 5-13 ATS in their home coming games after a 7 day road trip. They’re also 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing a team with a winning record.

I think we all enjoyed making light of Brooklyn investing so heavily in three questionable stars. We weren’t totally wrong, but we weren’t right either. Brook Lopez is one of the better centers in the league and fills a position of desperate need with quality, despite his ballooned contract.

Speaking of which, how about Joe Johnson? His 16.4 points per game this season haven’t been eye popping but when he really cares, he plays like an elite NBA marksman. He’ll make his return from a heel injury in this game.

Deron Williams is no longer in the running for “best point guard in the NBA” but his 16.8 points per game and 8.8 dishes over the last 5 games are encouraging. His final totals are noticeable, but so is his glaringly poor shooting percentage. He’s just .406 percent from the field.

With those three leading the way, Brooklyn has clawed its way to a 42-31 SU record which is about as good as they can get. They haven’t experienced any significant injuries and are succeeding only relative to their piss poor conference opponents. They should be able to earn the fourth or fifth playoff spot, setting up a matchup with Atlanta.

That is, of course, unless Chicago puts together a run heading down the home stretch. They’ve amassed a 40-33 SU record despite the absence of their best player. Though the Bulls curtailed Miami’s streak, Chicago is not a solid play in the sportsbook overall. They’re 4-6 SU and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.

Fortunately the Bulls are also 5-0 ATS when playing the Atlantic Division, and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against Eastern Conference opponents. They’re just 3-2 ATS in their last 5 road games, but have played exceptionally well against Brooklyn, going 4-2 SU and ATS in their last 6 meetings.

Deron Williams will give them problems, but the Bulls are well equipped against the other two threats. The poor shooting of the man they call D-Will is going to doom Brooklyn to another failed cover as the pesky Bulls inch farther up the standings.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER over San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, April 4th at 9:30pm EST – The Thunder still have plenty of reasons to play hard down the stretch since home court advantage is on the line through the playoffs. The unimaginable would have to happen to surpass Miami for the top spot in the league, but the top ranked spot Spurs are within striking range out west.

The two best Western Conference teams have split their last 10 games at 5-5 SU, but the Thunder hold the betting edge at 6-3-1 ATS in the series. Normally, the Thunder have the edge at home. They’re 23-8 ATS in their last 31 home games and are known to step up when they’re playing elite opponents. The Thunder are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games against teams with a winning record. The only betting trend leaning away from Oklahoma City is their record on Thursday games where they’re just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games. I’m not putting too much stock in to that last one.

The Spurs are either limping in to this matchup or taking turns in the hyperbolic chamber out back. Either way Greg Popovich isn’t taking any chances. Kahwi Leonard and Tony Parker sat out last night against Orlando in a dominant 110-89 win. Manu Ginobli is out indefinitely with a roughed up hammy and who knows when Tim Duncan plays down the home stretch. You will have to be on top of the pipeline before tip-off to see who makes the starting lineup, but chances are the Spurs take this game as seriously as they took their matchup against Miami (which was also one of those “statement games”).

Either way, the Spurs aren’t the smart play here. They’re just 0-4 ATS in their last 4 visits to Oklahoma City, and are a crazy 1-5 ATS when playing teams that have a winning record. They’re also a terrifying 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, despite picking up seven wins during that run.

I have no doubt that this will be a fun game as Popovich unleashes his bench players to get them ready for the post season, but that just means that Kevin Durant and company will be ready to close the gap in the standings. The way Popovich has tinkered with his roster this season, it’s obvious that these statement matchups are less important to him compared to getting his team to the playoffs healthy. If they’re bounced in the first two rounds, it won’t matter if they have home court advantage by the time they meet the Thunder in the playoffs.

Take advantage of the Spurs’ weaknesses in terms of depth and health and back this line for the Thunder as they put on a show for their hometown fans at the expense of the Spurs…who could probably care less what happens in this game.

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The Knicks (47-26, 20-16 V) won in Miami 102-90, on Tuesday night. Carmelo Anthony tied his career high with 50 points and the Knicks toppled the injury-depleted Miami Heat. It was the third time he scored 50 in his career. J.R. Smith scored 14 and Raymond Felton added 10 for New York.

The Knicks last played the Hawks on Jan. 27, emerging with a 106-104 victory after Carmelo Anthony scored the game-winning layup with 12 seconds left. Anthony had an unbelievable game that night, posting 42 points while going 15-of-28 from the field and 9-of-12 from beyond the arc. New York allowed Atlanta to shoot 60 percent from the floor in that game, yet still won. That’s because the team as a whole notched 16 three-pointers and scored 17 points on 19 Hawks turnovers.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now. The Hawks (42-33, 24-13 H) beat Cleveland 102-94, at home, on Monday night. Devin Harris scored a season-high 25 points and Josh Smith nearly added a triple-double in the win. Smith had 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Al Horford returned to start at centre for Atlanta after missing two games with a stomach illness. He had 16 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

The Hawks rank sixth in field-goal percentage, but 17th in offensive efficiency. That’s in large part due to the fact that they rank 21st in turnover rate and 26th in offensive rebounding percentage. The Hawks rank 13th and 10th respectively in opponents’ field-goal percentage and defensive efficiency, although they weren’t able to contain Anthony on Jan. 27. They also allowed J.R. Smith to drop 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Not coincidentally, Atlanta ranks 28th in the NBA in opponents’ three-point percentage.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Atlanta.
Knicks are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Atlanta.
Over is 24-11 in the last 35 meetings.
Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Knicks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Knicks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Knicks are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Knicks are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference.
Hawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
Hawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Hawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Hawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

NY Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks
When: Wednesday, April 3, 2012@7:00 PM ET
Pick: Hawks -2.5

The Bottom Line: The Knicks might be tired after playing back to back, but they should cover.We recommend you sign up with Sportsbook.com to receive a 10% sign up bonus heading into the NY Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks game.

The Bulls (40-32, 19-16 V) beat Detroit 95-94, at home, on Sunday. Luol Deng scored 28 points, Jimmy Butler and Nate Robinson each added 16. Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson each added 11 points for the Bulls and Cook finished with 10. The Bulls shot 40 per cent (30 for 76).

The Bulls, however, continue to be without Derrick Rose (knee), Joakim Noah (right foot), Marco Belinelli (abdominal strain) and Richard Hamilton (lower back), though Thibodeau said Noah and Belinelli are day to day. Noah nearly had a triple-double with nine points, 10 assists and 17 rebounds in an 86-73 loss in Washington on Jan. 26, while Belinelli scored 17 in an 87-77 home win on Dec. 29.

The Bulls have limited the Wizards to just 79.8 points per game on 38.1 percent shooting in their last eight games in this series. The Bulls have won four of five in Washington, but have dropped six of eight on the road overall heading into this contest.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now. The Wizards (27-46, 20-17 H) beat Toronto 109-92, at home, on Sunday night. Bradly Beal scored 24 points in his return from a five-game absence. Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and John Wall added 18 points and 10 assists for Washington. The Wizards, who came in having lost two in a row on the road, won their seventh straight at home and moved into a tie with Toronto for 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

Although Nene (knee) will be a game-decision for the Wizards, center Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 16 rebounds in the January win. Washington has shot 50.0 percent from the field over its last six games at the Verizon Center, averaging 108.2 points and hitting 52.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Bulls are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
Under is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings.
Under is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings in Washington.
Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bulls are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Wizards are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards
When: Tuesday, April 2, 2012@7:00 PM ET
Pick: Bulls -2

The Bottom Line: the Wizards are hot at home against a banged up Bulls squad. We recommend you sign up with Sportsbook.com to receive a 20% sign up bonus heading into the Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards game.

The Celtics (38-35, 13-24 V) won two in a row between double-digit losses to the New York Knicks, including Sunday’s 108-89 setback in Madison Square Garden. Jeff Green scored 27 points and Paul Pierce added 24 against the Knicks, but they received little support on the offensive end and the Celtics never recovered after allowing 65 first-half points.

Danny Ainge said Thursday that Garnett’s original estimated two-week absence would be “more than sufficient” for his emotional leader to return. Garnett was with the team in New York. He did not participate in the shootaround but was expected to head to Minnesota and appears ready to at least get in some side work in preparation for a much-needed return.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now.The Timberwolves (26-46, 17-19 H) suffered a 99-86 loss to Memphis on Saturday. Rubio had 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, just missing out on his second triple-double this month. The Timberwolves have split their last six games with two of the wins coming on the road and the other at home against Oklahoma City, not a bad stretch for a team that went 11-34 during one span this season.

Minnesota remains without a winning streak of any kind since a four-gamer Dec. 7-15, and missed out on another opportunity in the loss to the Grizzlies. A night after stunning the Thunder, the Timberwolves managed just 36 second-half points in their worst offensive showing in seven games. One reason for the flip-flop was the absence of center Nikola Pekovic. He missed the Memphis game after spraining his ankle late in a 22-point, 15-rebound effort vs. Oklahoma City. Pekovic is considered day-to-day.

Be sure to check out the latest NBA Odds now.

Recent Betting Trends to Consider:
Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Minnesota.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Underdog is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
Celtics are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
Celtics are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Northwest.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.
Timberwolves are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Timberwolves are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Timberwolves are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Timberwolves are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points.

Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves
When: Monday, April 1, 2012@8:00 PM ET
Pick: Celtics -4.5

The Bottom Line: Celtics will rebound back, maybe not the win though. We recommend you sign up with Bovada.lv to receive a 20% sign up bonus heading into the Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves game.