Posted at 3:00 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +8½ -110  BET365  +8½ -110 Sportsinteraction +8½ -104 888Sport +8½ -110

Chicago +8½ over Philadelphia

7:10 EST. We do not blame anyone that does not want to make this wager after the 76ers waffled both Charlotte and Indiana over their last two games, bringing their current winning streak to eight in a row. Maybe the Sixers are a steam train that we’ve foolishly picked a fight with, or maybe they are a team that is feasting on the fat. Of those eight consecutive victories, only two came against teams with a winning record (Bucks and Cavaliers). The rest of the wins came against Indiana (twice), Minnesota, Portland, Washington, and Charlotte.

If all we had to do was predict wins and losses, it would be easy to choose the superior side every time out, but that is not the game. Once the point-spread is introduced, as the legendary eight times World Champion Harley Race used to say, “It’s a whole new ballgame.” The point-spread is supposed to be the “great equalizer,” however, the oddsmakers have whiffed hard on the red hot Sixers more often than not during this winning run. Philly has easily covered the numbers the books have posted for them to beat of late going beyond the inflated points being offered up by 15½ (Pacers round two), 28½ (Hornets), 12 (Wizards), and 26½ (Minnesota).

There are inflated points on top of inflated points on offer here today. Against the Hornets on St. Patrick’s Day, the Sixers were a 10½-point road favorite, and then the next night at Indiana they were a modest 4½-point chalk. Now, with the Bulls in town, the 76ers are spotting a number somewhere in between their last two games. However, the Bulls are not the Hornets or Pacers. For a little perspective on that, Charlotte is ranked 27th, and Indiana 26th. Chicago is in the top half of The Association at #14.

Situationally speaking, this could not have been a better spot for the Bulls to knock off the dust after a two game losing skid (Miami and Minnesota), as the Sixers are back in Philly for a one off before heading out to Chi-Town for a rematch in Chicago on Wednesday night before going out West for games against the defending champion Warriors and the Suns, who are currently the favorites to represent the West in The Finals. The Bulls are in a position to catch the 76ers looking past them twice. 

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