The Bulls aren’t ready to give up on the postseason just yet, but they’ll need some help down the stretch. They’ve helped themselves by winning three consecutive road games and will need to deal the Grizzlies a seventh straight loss to stay within striking distance.
You can bet on NBA odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
SCHEDULING
It appears as though the Bulls are going to do their best to qualify for the postseason. Following a four-game losing streak that seemingly left them outside the postseason party, the Bulls have won three of their past four to keep the pressure on Indiana and Detroit for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference. Interestingly, the three wins all came on the road with Sunday’s victory in Milwaukee an enormous effort after Chicago fell at home to Detroit Saturday night. The Bulls had lost 11 of 12 away from the UC before their current three-game run, and they’ll need to stay hot with two straight and three of their remaining five games coming away from home.
Memphis is stumbling at the wrong time. In the bottom half of the Western Conference playoff chase, the Grizzlies are fighting with Portland for the fifth seed while also being mindful they could fall out of playoff contention at the rate they’re going. The Griz lost for the sixth straight time Sunday night and have just a three-game lead on ninth-place Houston. The beat up Griz get no help from the schedule makers with two games against Golden State and one each with Dallas and the Clippers to close the season.
INJURIES
Derrick Rose warmed up prior to Sunday’s game wearing a brace on his hyperextended left elbow, but decided he wasn’t ready to go. Taj Gibson skipped his third game with a fractured rib an there’s no telling if he’ll be able to play again this season.
Forwards P.J. Hairston, Brandan Wright, and guard Jordan Adams all remain out indefinitely. Point guard Mike Conley is likely out until the postseason – if the Griz qualify.
KEY MATCHUP
Jimmy Butler is doing his part to help the Bulls stay in the playoff picture. He was a part of nearly every big play down the stretch of a desperately needed victory Sunday night with 25 points on 10 of 11 shooting and eight assists against Milwaukee. The Bulls again handed Butler the keys to the car at crunch time and let him run the show. On Saturday night, Butler grabbed 17 rebounds, the most by a Bulls guard since Michael Jordan, and added 28 points and 12 assists for his first triple-double. On Sunday, he became the first Bull to score at least 25 points on 90 percent shooting since 1991. The Bulls need Butler at his best if they are to qualify for the postseason, and it appears as though he’s on his way.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
When Bryce Cotton entered Sunday night’s game at Orlando, he helped the Grizzlies establish a new league standard by becoming the 28th player to suit up. The Griz have been without star center Marc Gasol since early February and floor leader Mike Conley since early March. What sets Memphis apart, though, is that they are bidding to become the first NBA team to use at least 24 players in a single season and still make the playoffs. The Griz won’t be getting any sympathy cards from the Bulls, who have experienced their own glut of injuries this season. The difference now is that Chicago has some key players back in the lineup. And that’s enough to get past the Grizzlies D team.
Chicago 105, Memphis 98
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! Bet on the NBA today as the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies square off Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at FedExForum.
