Bulls vs. Hawks: Chicago Tries to Extend Streak of Not Losing Back-to-Back Games

The Chicago Bulls (40-11) and Atlanta Hawks (30-21) will both be coming off a loss when they meet Wednesday night inside Philips Arena in Atlanta, but one of them hasn't lost back-to-back games since Feb. 5 and Feb. 7, 2011.

Las Vegas oddsmakers are definitely aware of the Bulls' ability to bounce back from a loss, and have established them as 4.5-point road favorites.

Chicago suffered a 108-91 setback to the Denver Nuggets as 7.5-point home favorites on Monday night, as it looks to continue its streak of not suffering consecutive defeats to 84 games.

The team with the NBA's best record heading into this Eastern Conference affair will be without the services of All-Star point guard Derrick Rose, who has missed the last seven games with a groin injury.

The Bulls have won two of the first three meetings in this series during the shortened 2011-12 campaign, but Rose combined to score 61 points in participating in each contest.

Sports bettors will likely back the road team in this matchup despite not having last year's MVP on the floor, as the visitors come in with a 34-16-1 against-the-spread (ATS) mark when coming off a loss in their last 51 opportunities.

Atlanta isn't getting much respect in the betting market with the current betting odds, especially when you consider that it has won seven of the last eight games in tonight's venue in this series.

The Hawks have captured those seven games by an average of 14.1 points per game, including a 109-94 blowout win as six-point underdogs on Jan. 7.

Coming off a 108-10 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks as 2.5-point road underdogs last night isn't a major concern, as the squad is 20-8-1 ATS when playing with zero days rest.

Take the generous points in this one.

Pick: Atlanta Hawks +4.5