NBA playoffs: Bulls and Clippers are game 3 favourites

Chicago Bulls will be looking to avoid back-to-back playoff losses on home court when they meet Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series as slim 1.5-point favourites in NBA betting at Coral.

The Bulls return home to United Center after suffering a 106-91 Game 2 loss in Cleveland, which evened the series at one game apiece.

That loss also halted the shortening of Chicago’s NBA Championship outright odds. The Bulls had risen to a strong 5/1, close on the heels of the Cavaliers, who had faded to 4/1 after opening the post-season as championship favourites alongside Golden State Warriors, at 11/2.

Entering Friday’s crucial Game 3 match-up, the Bulls have slipped to 15/2, joined by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers have improved to 7/2, but still trail the Warriors, who remain 6/5 favourites.

Chicago was shocked in their last home contest, a 94-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of their first-round series which ended a nine-game SU home winning streak. Indeed, the Bulls have not lost back-to-back games at home since mid-January, going 17-5 SU in their last 22, 15-8 ATS.

The Cavaliers travel to Chicago looking for just their third SU win in their last 12 visits, but picked up a SU win in one of two games at United Center during the regular season.

Cleveland is 5-3 SU in their last eight on the road, and are also 5-3 ATS in their last eight overall, following a four-game ATS losing streak.

Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Clippers (-4.5)
In other NBA playoff action on Friday night, it remains questionable whether LA Clippers will have the services of star point guard Chris Paul when they meet Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-final as strong 4.5-point favourites.