San Antonio @ Chicago
The San Antonio Spurs kick off their nine-game road trip with a running of the Bulls.
The Spurs have taken losing to a new level, losing eight games in a row and exiting the month of January with just two wins. Having already played and lost their only two home games of the month, they may enter March with the same amount of wins they currently have. This ten-game trip is precisely what a tanking team wants to see on the schedule.
It will be a tough haul for the players, but the All-Star break will give them some rest after their sixth game.
As for the Bulls, they are trying to pick up another win before going on a three-game trip where they visit Memphis, Brooklyn, and Cleveland.
There is a stark separation in the Eastern Conference between the top five and the bottom five teams. Chicago is in the shuffle with the bottom five, and while they currently sit in the 9th seed, plenty of shuffling will happen before the end of the year. The Bulls are three games out of the Heat and the coveted 6th seed; there is more than enough time to make that push so they can miss the Play-in Tournament.
Chicago should have no problem picking up the win today, as San Antonio’s record at the spread is barely better than their straight-up record. So bettors can expect a nice win for the Bulls to close out their home stand and the Spurs to start their road trip with a nasty L.
As a bonus stat, Brian Forte will be on the officiating crew in this one, and home teams are 29-11-2 ATS in games he officiates.
Chicago -10.5 (-110) Over 237.5 (-110)
Milwaukee @ Portland
The Bucks are on a seven-game winning streak but are still a game out of Boston in the Eastern Conference. They have a three-game West Coast stint before returning home to take on Boston, and they hope not to lose any ground in that time.
Today they take on a scrappy Portland team. Bettors never know what Trail Blazer squad will show up. Is it the team that just beat the Grizzlies in Memphis or the squad that lost at home to the Lakers? The Trail Blazers are a team bouncing in and out of playoff contention; if they could find any consistency, they could be a threat in the West.
Even at their best, though, they don’t have a shot against this Bucks team. Given how Milwaukee is playing, it’s shocking to see them as a short favorite, but it creates a fantastic opportunity for bettors.
Over 242.5 (-110) Giannis Over 34.5 Points (-110) Parlay: Giannis Over 0.5 3s & Milwaukee Moneyline (+138)
