Bulls-Nets Game 2 Betting Line: 2013 NBA Playoffs
Carrie Stroup here with your Bulls-Nets Game 2 betting line for the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Bet this game at Sportsbook.com and receive a FREE $100 BET.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Brooklyn -4.5 & 183.5
The Bulls will be out to prove they belong on the court with the Nets on Monday night after being blown out in Brooklyn in Saturday's Game 1.
Saturday's outcome was more lopsided than anybody could have possibly expected. The Nets were firing right out of the gate, leading 60-35 at half and coasting to a 106-89 blowout win. The Bulls struggled to find offense as they have often this season, but surprisingly their biggest issue came on the defensive end of the floor where they had no answer for Nets PG Deron Williams. He finished the game 9-for-15 from the field with 22 points with game highs in assists (7), steals (3) and rating (+24). He managed a perfect game on the floor for P.J. Carlesimo, making pinpoint passes on the team's way to a 55.8% shooting performance from the field. Chicago C Joakim Noah played just 13 minutes and looked out of sync every time he stepped on the floor. His ongoing plantar fasciitis foot injury is a major concern for the Bulls at this point in the series.
The Bulls played great defense all season (92.9 PPG allowed, 3rd in NBA) and that kept them in most of their games. They got away from their winning philosophy against the Nets in Game 1 though, and allowed several Brooklyn players to get to the rim with no consequences. The Bulls are missing a healthy C Joakim Noah, who played just 13 minutes in the game with four points and five rebounds. Noah will need to play better in Game 2 if the Bulls are going to have any shot. PF Carlos Boozer provided Chicago with plenty of offense, going 12-for-20 from the field with 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists, all team bests. PG Nate Robinson played decently off the bench for the Bulls as well with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Robinson scored a lot of points in garbage minutes though, which makes the matchup with Deron Williams seem a lot closer than it really was. The Bulls need a lot more out of SF Luol Deng. The Bulls’ best two-way player went just 3-of-11 from the field with six points, two rebounds and a minus-16 rating in 38 minutes.
The Nets played one of their best games all season against the Bulls on Saturday. The team shot 55.8% from the floor by dominating the paint with a 56-36 points-in-paint advantage and also had a decisive 12-3 edge in fast-break points. Other than the magnificent performance by PG Deron Williams, C Brook Lopez was also key in the Brooklyn win. Lopez was perfect from the free throw line (7-for-7), while going 7-of-15 from the field on his way to having 21 points, five rebounds and three blocks. SF Gerald Wallace, who has really struggled at times this season, went 5-for-7 from the field for 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Wallace needs to play with confidence if the Nets are going to make a run this year, and this performance should give him plenty of it. Brooklyn also received nice contributions from two reserves. PG C.J. Watson scored 14 points (6-of-8 FG) in 23 minutes, while C Andray Blatche averaged 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
