NBA picks: Hawks vs. Bulls prediction, odds, over/under, spread, injury report for Tuesday, Dec. 26

Young is in for the Hawks, while Vucevic has been ruled out. This has completely flipped the lines, with Atlanta now listed as a 2.5-point favorite. The total is 237. Even with Young in the game, I still like the Bulls as 2.5-point underdogs. I’ll also take the over on the new total.

Two teams in the third tier of the Eastern Conference playoff picture will face off Tuesday when the Atlanta Hawks (12-17) meet the Chicago Bulls (13-18). Both teams are hoping to get back to winning ways as 2023 winds down, and this is the first matchup between these squads this year.

Jalen Johnson is set to return for the Hawks as he recovers from a fractured hand. Trae Young is questionable with a shoulder injury. For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic is listed as questionable with a groin issue.

The Bulls are 1.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total coming in at 234. Chicago is -120 on the moneyline while Atlanta is +100.

Hawks vs. Bulls, 8 p.m. ET

Pick ATS: Bulls -1.5

Chicago had been trending in the right direction before an inexplicable loss to a Cavaliers team without three of its starters. The Bulls have improved on both ends of the floor since Zach LaVine’s injury, and are 15-15-1 ATS this season. The Hawks are the worst ATS team this season at 7-22 and have covered just once in their last five contests.

This line will be adjusted depending on Young and Vucevic’s availabilities, but I like the Bulls to get the win. They are the better team at the moment and should bounce back from a subpar showing against Cleveland.

Over/Under: Over 234

These are two of the more over-friendly teams in the league. Atlanta is 19-10 to the over while Chicago is 18-13. The Hawks have gone over their totals in four of their last five games, and seven of the last nine. Only one of those totals was under this line, and it was 233.5. The Bulls have gone over their totals just once in the last four games but had five straight overs prior to that. I like the over in this one.