Knicks v Clippers, Celtics v Bulls in tight NBA Eastern Conference race

Los Angeles briefly held the lead early on against Cavaliers, but were largely dominated by Lebron James and company while posting an ATS loss as 6.5-point underdogs.

The loss ended LA’s eight-game SU winning streak against Eastern squads, which featured six lopsided wins by double-digit margins.

Clips had also emerged victorious in their previous five road dates, and arrive in the Big Apple looking to continue their recent domination of the Knicks, claiming six straight wins over New York, 5-0-1 ATS.

Los Angeles continue their road trip with a visit to Toronto to face the red-hot Raptors on Sunday, while Knicks are scheduled to visit Charlotte on Saturday. However, a massive winter storm on the American Eastern Seaboard could jeopardize that contest.

Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics (-3.5)

Celtics head into their Friday night date with Chicago in control of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East despite coming up short in their last two, including a 115-109 loss in Toronto on Wednesday.

Boston is a worrisome 4-8 SU over their past 12, and have become an increasingly unreliable bet with just seven ATS wins in their past 19 contests.

While, Celtics have picked up victories in their past two matchups at TD Garden, but have enjoyed little benefit from home cooking, going 4-6 SU in their past 10, 4-5-1 ATS, including a pair of three-game SU losing streaks.

The club is also a feeble 3-6 SU in their past nine against Eastern Conference opponents, despite averaging just under 104 points per game during that stretch.

Bulls (20/1 to be NBA Championship winner) will be hungry for vengeance following a humiliating 125-94 home loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Chicago have now lost five of seven SU, 1-6 ATS, during their worst slump of the season, outscored by an average of 14.2 points per game in those defeats.

The OVER has been a strong bet in recent Bulls contests, going 14-4 in their past 18, but it was the UNDER that prevailed in the most recent meeting between these clubs two weeks ago, when Chicago claimed a 101-92 win as 6-point chalk.

Celtics earned a 105-100 victory in their last meeting at TD Garden in early January, but the Bulls are a solid 9-3 SU, 8-3-1 ATS, in their last 12 overall against Boston.

Bulls are scheduled to visit Cavaliers on Saturday, while Boston heads to Philadelphia to battle the Sixers, weather permitting.

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