Tip-off: Monday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -2.5, Total: 193.5

The Bulls go for their third straight victory on Monday night when they host the slumping Thunder.

Oklahoma City is coming off of a brutal performance on Saturday in which the 7.5-point underdog Mavericks blew them out at home, 109-86. That drops the Thunder to 5-6 SU (4-7 ATS) in their past 11 contests, a stretch where they have allowed triple-digit points eight times. Chicago, on the other hand, is 13-4 SU (12-5 ATS) in its past 17 games, which includes two straight home wins by 31 points. Two days before the Bulls took down the Kings 94-87 on Saturday, they crushed the Rockets by 24 points. Oklahoma City has been excellent on the road this season at 20-11 SU (17-14 ATS), while Chicago is a strong 21-12 SU (17-16 ATS) at home. In the first meeting this season on Dec. 19, the Thunder prevailed 107-95 at home, but the Bulls covered the 13.5-point spread. That gives Oklahoma City four straight wins in this series (3-1 ATS), and the franchise is a dominant 11-5 SU (12-4 ATS) when visiting the Windy City since 1996. Over the past three seasons, the Thunder are 33-17 ATS (66%) off an upset loss as a favorite, but Chicago is only 14-5 ATS (74%) this season when revenging a loss versus an opponent who beat them by double-digits. There are no new injuries to report for either team, as the Thunder remain without SG Thabo Sefolosha (leg) indefinitely.

Can the Bulls pick up a rare win against the Thunder 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 surging in NBA Best Bets recently with a 54% ATS record (67-58-1) since Feb. 10. StatFox Dave has a strong 57% ATS (43-32-1) Best Bets record since Dec. 1 and is 54% ATS (53-46-1) on Best Bets for the season. StatFox Brian remains red-hot, going 65% ATS (24-13-1) since Jan. 25 and 59% ATS (39-27-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 12. StatFox Gary is also heating up with a 60% ATS mark (12-8) since Feb. 13.

Oklahoma City doesn't have a real weakness, ranking fifth in the NBA in scoring (105.8 PPG), fourth in rebounding (45.3 RPG) and 10th in defense (99.4 PPG allowed). But the Thunder are coming off of an awful home loss to the Mavericks in which they were outmuscled by a 42-33 rebounding edge and a were outscored 40-22 in points in the paint. SF Kevin Durant (31.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.5 APG) had 30 points in 34 minutes, but only two other scored in double-digits. PG Russell Westbrook (21.5 PPG, 7.1 APG, 5.7 RPG) did not play in the game, so it is likely he will play against the Bulls on Monday. The Thunder are resting Westbrook in hopes of having him fully healthy for the start of the playoffs. He should have a major mismatch going up against the Bulls underwhelming group of point guards. Westbrook had 20 points and 10 assists in the last meeting between these teams. PF Serge Ibaka (15.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG) really struggled in the last matchup with the Bulls, finishing with just five points in 21 minutes. He was in foul trouble throughout the contest and must perform like he's done over the past five games, averaging 17.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 3.6 BPG in 33.8 MPG. PG Reggie Jackson (13.2 PPG, 4.0 APG) had 18 points and five rebounds in the last meeting between these teams, and his energy off the bench could really help the Thunder rebound from Sunday night’s loss.

Chicago remains a terrible offensive team with a league-low 93.4 PPG on 43.1% FG (4th-worst in NBA), but is able to overcome that with a league-leading 92.2 PPG allowed on 43.1% FG (2nd-best in NBA). The Bulls have held opponents to 87.0 PPG on 36% FG during a two-game win streak. C Joakim Noah (12.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.0 APG) has put himself right into the MVP conversation. Over the past five games, he is averaging 16.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 7.4 APG in 37.8 MPG. Defensively, Noah has added 2.6 BPG and 1.2 SPG over that stretch. He is a playmaker at the center position and does everything his team asks of him, dropping 23 points with 12 rebounds in the last meeting with the Thunder. PG D.J. Augustin (12.1 PPG, 4.4 APG) is coming off of a solid effort against the Kings when he had 12 points and two assists, and has done a nice job of bringing quickness and scoring to the Bulls from the point guard position. Augustin had 15 points and five assists in the first meeting with Oklahoma City on Dec. 13 and his team will need him to do more of the same, as the Thunder get a lot of production from their point guard position. Chicago will also need a strong performance from PF Taj Gibson (13.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.4 BPG) in this one. Gibson will be going up against Serge Ibaka, who he got the better of last matchup. In the last game against the Thunder, Gibson finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks and caused Ibaka to get into foul trouble. But he is coming off a huge game against the Kings on Sunday where he finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.