Posted at 12:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +121  BET365 +120 Sportsinteraction +118  888Sport +120

Portland +121 over Chicago

10:10 PM EST. There is a perception in the media and the market that the Trail Blazers are dead to rights, but that could not be further from the truth. Rip City is 3½ games back of 10th place New Orleans with 10 games to play. The Blazers might have their backs against the wall, but they are not down and out. Prior to their win over Utah on Wednesday night, Portland dropped six straight games. A bad look, yes, but the ‘Blazers did lose to Boston twice, Philadelphia, the Knicks, Clippers, and the Pelicans, all teams that are in the hunt for either a playoff spot or a division title.

Chicago has been fighting and clawing every night to gain position in the Eastern Conference where the Bulls currently sit 10th, which is the last spot for the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. The Bulls have won five of their last seven games, including a double-overtime effort against the 76ers on Monday night. In their rematch at home against Philly on Wednesday, the Bulls lost 116-91. This line has been bet up since opening, but that likely has more to do with the perception that the Bulls have "everything" to play for here more than it does with recent results. We are going to attack that perception here because it's led to the wrong side being favored.

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