PRO BASKETBALL — March 1

ATLANTA at CHICAGO
(Bulls -1, Total 196.5) — [private] The fact that Atlanta has done well enough on the road (16-12 ATS0 probably should not be ignored here. Neither should the fact that the guy who is supplying the Bulls with any muscle they have inside, Joakim Noah, is out of this game with a foot injury. Two others, Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, are banged up. Atlanta is the kind of quality opponent that has given Chicago trouble, and the evidence is in the way these teams have matched up with each other, with the Hawks winning six of the last seven, not to mention covering six of the last eight. Josh Smith is on a torrid streak, averaging 22.3 points and 12.0 rebounds in his last three. Atlanta is 22-8 SU when Smith scored 16 points or more. He also had a triple-double against Chicago last time they played. It’s not good news for the Bulls that someone else has been hitting the boards and scoring inside, because Noah has been one of the NBA’s best rebounders this season.

THE PLAY: ATLANTA +1 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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