Bulls vs Celtics Odds, Spread & Picks (Jan. 9)

• Boston is laying 8 points to Chicago in the Bulls vs Celtics odds on Monday
• Chicago enters play fresh off three impressive victories in a row
• Keep reading for the latest Bulls vs Celtics odds, analysis and best bets

The beasts of the East are back on the court on Monday, as the Celtics (28-12, 15-5 home) host the surging Bulls (19-21, 8-12 away).

Boston was projected to be the best team in the league prior to the season starting, and so far they haven’t disappointed. The Celtics boast an NBA high .700 winning percentage, and enter play fresh off back-to-back victories.

Oddsmakers are expecting their solid form to continue, pegging them as hefty favorites over Chicago in the NBA odds.

Bulls vs Celtics Odds

Odds as of January 8 at Barstool. Claim the Barstool Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Bulls vs Celtics game.

Boston opened up as 8-point favorites, in a contest without a total as of Sunday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET inside TD Garden in Boston, MA, with NBA TV providing the broadcast coverage.

Bulls vs Celtics Betting Trends

The Celtics boast the NBA’s top offensive rating and rank seventh at the defensive end. They’re one of only two teams ranked inside the top-seven in both categories, along with the Nets. Not surprisingly, both those teams are top-three NBA Championship odds contenders, with Boston leading the way.

The Celtics are coming off a 121-116 win over the Spurs, in which they shot 49% from the field and 44% from three. Jayson Tatum led the way with 34 points, as he continues his pursuit towards the top of the NBA MVP odds list. Tatum averages 31 points and 8 boards per night, and along with Jaylen Brown, are the only teammates inside the top-12 in scoring.

Jayson Tatum tonight:

34 Points
4 Rebounds
2 Assists
50% FG pic.twitter.com/pTRI37BuFI

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 8, 2023

Defensively, Boston has taken a small step back from last season, but have revved up the intensity at that end of the court recently. They’re one game removed from completely shutting down Luka Doncic and the high-octane Mavericks, holding them to 95 points. They rank third in defensive rating over the past 15 games, and will face a stiff test from the red-hot Bulls.

Chicago enters play fresh off three impressive wins over playoff-calibre opponents. That stretch includes a win over Brooklyn, and the Bulls are the only team that can say that in the Nets last 14 games.

After reaching the postseason last year, the Bulls limped out of the gate to an 11-18 mark. They’ve since righted the ship, in large part due to the play of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. The latter leads the team in scoring, while the former has been lights out from three recently.

Zach LaVine went off in the Bulls W tonight:

🎯 41 PTS
🎯 6 AST
🎯 11 Threes
🎯 85% 3PT pic.twitter.com/iJ3LLBLqJw

— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2023

LaVine has poured in 17 triples in his last two contests alone. He made 11 three’s in a win over the 76ers, and then six more last time out versus the Jazz.

Chicago has scored 121 or more points in three consecutive games, winning by at least 8 points in each outing. They’ve covered in all three contests, each time as an underdog.

Bulls vs Celtics Predictions

The Bulls have actually excelled in an underdog role all season. They’re 15-10-2 against the spread when catching points overall, and 10-6-1 ATS as road ‘dogs. They’ve faced Boston three times this season and beaten them twice. Needless to say, +8 feels like a bit of a slap in the face to Chicago.

NBA Offensive Rating Ranks – Last 11 Games

Over the past 11 games, only two squads in the NBA have a better record than Chicago. They rank third in offensive rating during that stretch, 13 spots higher than Boston.

As for the Celtics, winning games has not been an issue, but it’s not like they’ve been spread crushers. Boston is just 18-18 ATS against non-divisional opponents, including 0-3 ATS so far this season versus the Bulls. In those three games, Boston is failing to cover by an average of 19.5 points.

Pick: Chicago Bulls +8 (-110)