Stephen Nover's NBA Total of the Week
(NBA) Boston vs. Chicago, 02/16/2017 3:00 PM, Score: 103 - 104
Total: 212.00 | -113.00 Under
Result: Loss
The figure is 29 out of the last 30. That's how many times Boston has reached triple digits during its last 30 games. The Celtics have scored a minimum of 107 points in 13 of their last 14 games and are averaging 114.7 points during their past four games. The over is 9-2-1 in Boston's last 12 road games.

So I see the Celtics during their part to get this total to go over.

But how about the Bulls?

Well, their defense had been atrocious up until their last game, a 105-94 home win versus Toronto two days ago. The Bulls had surrendered 100 or more points in nine consecutive games until beating the Raptors, allowing their previous four opponents before Toronto to shoot at least 50 percent from the field.

The key to making this over work is Chicago's offense, which ranks 27th in field goal percentage and 29th in 3-point shooting. The over buy sign is there on the Bulls, though, following that Raptors victory. The Bulls played at a faster than usual pace for them resulting in 20 fast-break points. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was quite pleased with the up-tempo style particularly how effective it was for bench players Doug McDermott, Cristiano Felicio and Denzel Valentine.

So expect the Bulls to play quick again especially trying to take advantage of Boston having to play without rest. This is the last game before the All-Star break, too, so both teams should be holding nothing back.

Jimmy Butler is back for Chicago and there's a chance the Bulls also will have Dwayne Wade and Nikola Mirotic, too. They missed the Raptors game with injuries.