My complimentary play is the Atlanta Hawks plus the points against the Chicago Bulls.
As disrespectful as this may sound, I don't think there's a more uninteresting game on the ENTIRE card than this one. I'd rather watch toddler crawling contests than watch this game.
Matter of fact, I may rewatch the WNBA Draft after my 2000♦ cashes in on the first game.
Nonetheless, I'm taking the points with the Hawks, who appear to be in rough shape, much more than Chicago, heading in.
The Hawks closed the season losing six in a row on the wood, and failing to cover seven of their last eight.
Chicago has been better, albeit slightly, going 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS down the stretch.
But I'm not going to base this one on how teams fared down the stretch, as it's an entirely different ball game now, and there's too much at stake for both.
I'm guessing the Bulls won't have much of a stopper for Trae Young, who appears to be back in form after missing more than a month with a finger injury.
Since his return, spanning three games back Young averaged 15 points and 10 assists on 57.7% shooting from the field. The same way we saw Jalen Brunson erupt for 40 points against the Bulls in the regular-season finale, is the same way I expect Young to seize this game for the Hawks.
If you want to hold off on betting this closer to tip time, I expect money to come in on the Bulls and possibly the under during the day. The number could grow to your favor. Good thing is, if it does, we know the Bulls will make a push early, so in-game betting will help drive the number and get us even better value with the Hawks.
That should be about the time Angel Reese is being drafted by the Chicago Sky during my rewatch.
Take the pup.