Knicks Bulls Line has Chicago a -7 Point Favorite
Carrie Stroup here and I have your Knicks vs. Bulls line for April 10, 2012. You can bet all of today’s NBA games here at Sportsbook.com and claim up to $250 in FREE CASH when you join today.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Chicago -7 & 187.5
Opening Line & Total: Bulls -9 & 186.5
Two days after spoiling Derrick Rose’s return with a wild upset at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks look to upend the Bulls again on Tuesday, this time in Chicago.
The Knicks led by as many as 21 early and trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s improbable 100-99 overtime home win over the Bulls. But a big reason for their win was that Rose was clearly rusty in his return after missing 12 games because of a groin injury, scoring 29 points but shooting just 8-for-26 from the field while turning it over eight times. Rose is listed as doubtful (ankle) to play on Tuesday night. And while the Knicks are 11-3 SU and ATS under interim head coach Mike Woodson, they’re 3-3 on the road and have dropped three of four away from home, their only win coming over the crumbling Orlando Magic.
Knicks SF Carmelo Anthony (21.5 PPG) has clearly settled in under Woodson. He scored 43 points, including some huge shots down the stretch, in Sunday’s win and is now averaging 31.2 PPG on 49.1% FG over his past five games. He’s filled a huge need for offense as the Knicks continue to play without PG Jeremy Lin (14.6 PPG, 6.1 APG) and PF Amar’e Stoudemire (17.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG). C Tyson Chandler (11.1 PPG on 67.6% FG, 9.9 RPG) continues to be a difference maker defensively and as a rebounder, averaging 13.5 RPG over the past four games.
The backcourt play has been a problem though. Rookie combo guard Iman Shumpert (9.8 PPG) has gone cold, averaging 9.8 PPG on 34.2% FG and 35.3% from three over the past four games. PG Baron Davis (5.4 PPG, 4.9 APG) has struggled since taking over for the injured Lin, averaging 6.7 PPG on 29.6% FG and 25.0% from three and only 4.9 APG over seven starts since Lin went down. Sixth man J.R. Smith (10.7 PPG) continues to try to fill the scoring void, but while he’s averaging 11.5 PPG off the bench over the past 10 contests, he’s hit just 34.9% FG and 24.6% from three. Smith, Shumpert and Davis combined to go 12-for-43 (27.9%) in Sunday’s win.
Chicago’s perimeter players shot the ball miserably in the loss at New York, with Rose (23.0 PPG, 7.9 APG), SG Richard Hamilton (10.7 PPG) and SF Luol Deng (15.6 PPG) combining to go 15-for-50 (30.0%) from the field. The rust from their reigning MVP was understandable though, as it was Rose’s first game since March 12.
The Bulls continue to get a solid, understated contribution from PF Carlos Boozer (15.3 PPG on 53.5% FG, 8.6 RPG). He’s averaging 15.2 PPG on 56.8% FG and 10.6 RPG over his past 10 games, including a 13-point, 16-rebound performance in Sunday’s loss. However, he continues to give way to superior defender Taj Gibson in key situations.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
