Tip-off: Monday, 7:35 p.m. ET
Line: Brooklyn -3, Total: 186.5

Two teams looking to extend win streaks as they attempt to climb the Eastern Conference standings meet on Monday night when the Nets host the Bulls.

Chicago has been on fire recently, winning four straight games and nine of its past 10 contests (SU and ATS). During the four-game win streak, the Bulls are averaging 104.8 PPG, which is a huge jump from their NBA-worst 93.3 PPG this season. Brooklyn has also played well recently, capping a successful seven-game road trip (4-3 SU and ATS) with three wins in its past four games. Chicago is 4-1 (SU and ATS) in its past five road games to improve to 15-16 SU (15-15-1 ATS) away from home this season. The Nets haven't been a great home team this season at 16-11 SU (14-13 ATS), but were a perfect 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS) at Barclays Center in February. These clubs played a grueling seven-game playoff series last year won by Chicago, but in the first two meetings between these teams this season, the Bulls have rolled to blowout wins of 95-78 on the road Christmas Day, and 92-76 at home on Feb. 13. That gives them a commanding 13-5 SU edge (11-7 ATS) in the past 18 meetings of this series, including a dominant 6-3 SU (7-2 ATS) record when visiting the Nets. Chicago is also 43-23 ATS in a road game where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points over the past three seasons. The club is also going up against a Brooklyn team that is 1-12 ATS at home where the total is between 185 and 189.5 points in that same span. The Nets, however, are 8-4 ATS over this same three-season timeframe after playing four consecutive road games. There are no significant injuries for either team for Monday's matchup

Which team will extend its winning streak on Monday night? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season. The five StatFox experts have been heating up in NBA Best Bets recently with a 61% ATS record (45-29-1) since Feb. 10. StatFox Dave has a stellar 60% ATS (39-26-1) Best Bets record since Dec. 1 and is 55% ATS (49-40-1) on Best Bets for the season. StatFox Brian remains red-hot, going 70% ATS (19-8-1) since Jan. 25 and 61% ATS (34-22-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 12. StatFox Zach has a strong 57% ATS mark (35-26-3) on Best Bets since Dec. 1 and is 54% ATS (46-40-3) on Best Bets for the season.

Chicago does not have an explosive offense, but this is an unselfish team (22.4 APG, 11th in league) that really attacks the glass (45.2 RPG, 7th in NBA). But the team never takes a possession off on defense, holding opponents to 92.3 PPG on 43.2% FG, both of which rank second in the NBA. The Bulls have been one of the hottest teams in the league and are coming off of a 109-90 blowout over the lowly Knicks on Sunday where the team committed just three turnovers. C Joakim Noah (12.1 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 BPG) was unbelievable against New York, finishing the game with 13 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. He was doing it all for Chicago and should be in for another big game as he had 14 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists against the Nets in their last meeting on Feb. 13. PF Carlos Boozer (14.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG) had 14 points and seven rebounds in just 24 minutes against New York, giving him 13.8 PPG (51% FG) and 9.3 RPG in just 25.1 MPG during his team's four-game win streak. Boozer has averaged 14.5 PPG (54% FG) and 8.0 RPG in two wins over the Nets this season. The reason Boozer's minutes have gone down is because of the recent play of PF Taj Gibson (13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG). Gibson is averaging 17.6 PPG and 8.6 RPG in 28.2 MPG over his past five games, and he'll get plenty of action on Monday, as he's compiled 18.0 PPG (55% FG), 6.5 RPG and 2.0 BPG versus Brooklyn this season. This Bulls front line is extremely difficult to play against, and should give the Nets, a more guard-oriented team, some major trouble on Monday night.

Brooklyn has a sub-.500 record for many reasons, such as its poor offense (97.5 PPG, 22nd in NBA), subpar passing (20.7 APG, 23rd in league) and horrible rebounding (39.0 RPG, 29th in NBA). The club has been decent on defense though, allowing only 99.6 PPG this season (11th in league). The Nets have won three of their past four games, including a 107-98 road victory in Milwaukee Saturday when newly-acquired SG Marcus Thornton (8.7 PPG) came off the bench to score 25 points (8-of-13 FG, 4-of-7 threes) in just 24 minutes, including 12 points in the fourth quarter. In the most recent meeting with the Bulls last month, SF Paul Pierce (13.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG) led the team in scoring with 15 points (4-of-11 FG) in 27 minutes, which was big improvement from his six points (1-of-8 FG) that he scored in the blowout loss to Chicago on Christmas Day. Pierce is averaging 15.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG over his past four games and will need to have a similarly good game if Brooklyn is going to win this one. PG Deron Williams (13.9 PPG, 6.4 APG, 1.2 SPG) had 15 points and four assists against the Bucks on Saturday. He had just 13 points (4-of-14 FG) and turned the ball over six times in last month's loss to Chicago. The Nets will need Williams to play like a superstar against this gritty Bulls team.