The Chicago Bulls (17-18) and Boston Celtics (22-12) will face off in the NBA on Monday night. Tipoff from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on NBCS-BOS.
The Celtics are 10.5-point favorites over the Bulls on the spread (Celtics -10.5), with the over/under set at 237 total points. Boston is a -450 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while Chicago is +350 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bulls vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Monday, January 5.
Bulls vs Celtics Prediction, Picks
- Bulls vs Celtics pick: Bulls First Half Moneyline (+220)
My Celtics vs. Bulls best bet is on Chicago to win the first half, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Bulls vs Celtics Odds for Monday, Jan. 5
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -110 | 237 -110o / -110u | +350 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -110 | 237 -110o / -110u | -450 |
Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics NBA Preview
This NBA system focuses on first-half moneyline opportunities where strong teams often start slow against inferior opponents, which may be the case for the Celtics in tonight's matchup against the Bulls.
During the regular season, underdogs with modest Pythagorean ratings face elite opponents with high win records who may be pacing themselves or conserving energy early in games.
These matchups frequently occur when the superior team is in cruise control, relying on second-half adjustments rather than urgency in the opening quarters.
Meanwhile, the underdog typically plays with early intensity and effort, creating value in short-term situations before the talent disparity takes over — which is expected to be the case for the Bulls in this spot.
By isolating first halves against top competition, this system leverages motivational imbalance and situational focus to identify profitable early-game edges.
Overall, the system stands at 780-1,331-76 (37%) with an 8% ROI across all-time results. This season, it’s off to a 28-42-4 (40%) start, producing a 9% ROI.
So, let's take the Bulls to win the first half on Monday night.
Bulls vs Celtics Best Bet
- Bulls First Half Moneyline (+220)
Celtics vs Bulls Betting Trends
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