Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -4.0, Total: 207.5

The Wizards will be looking to keep up their excellent play with a win over the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday.

Washington was miserable to open up the season, but the team has found its footing as of late. Prior to losing 107-105 in Indiana on Monday, the Wizards had won five of their past six. They also happen to have covered in six of their past seven coming into this one. This team is thriving offensively right now, shooting better than 50% from the floor in three of its past four contests. That type of performance would surely be an improvement on Wednesday, as the Wizards shot just 41.8% from the floor in a 106-95 loss to Chicago on Nov. 12. The Bulls are coming into this one after a 113-82 victory as two-point home favorites on Monday. That win snapped a three-game losing streak SU and a four-game losing streak ATS. One trend that really sticks out when looking at this game is the fact that the Bulls are a miserable 5-18 ATS against Southeast division opponents over the past two seasons. And for bettors interested in the total, Washington is 11-1 Over in road games after playing two consecutive games as an underdog over the past two seasons. PG Michael Carter-Williams (Knee) remains out for Chicago.

The Wizards are playing some good basketball right now and the backcourt of PG John Wall (23.7 PPG, 9.7 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.3 SPG) and SG Bradley Beal (22.8 PPG) has been as good as any in the league in recent weeks. Over the past five games, Wall is averaging 24.2 PPG and 10.0 APG on 47.2% shooting from the floor. He has also played well on the defensive end, as he is averaging 2.8 SPG in that span. Beal, meanwhile, has been scorching hot lately, averaging 27.4 PPG over the past five contests. He is finally playing the way the Wizards envisioned when they drafted him, and he must keep it up offensively. If the two of them can outplay Rondo and Wade then the Wizards will be in good shape. They’d then only need some solid contributions from both SF Otto Porter (13.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG) and C Marcin Gortat (11.4 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG) in order to pull off this big road upset. Porter will be the more important guy, as he’ll need to hold his own against Jimmy Butler in order for Washington have a chance.

The Bulls needed a victory over the Pistons on Monday, and they were able to get it in impressive fashion. One guy that really stepped it up in that game was PG Rajon Rondo (8.1 PPG, 7.2 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG), who had 10 points, 14 assists, eight boards and three steals in 28 minutes. Rondo will need to be ready to go on Wednesday, as he can’t afford to be badly outplayed by John Wall in this one. The same goes for SG Dwyane Wade (19.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.5 SPG), who has to do his best to come out on top in his matchup with Bradley Beal. Expect Wade to go to the post a lot, as Beal is no match for him physically and could get into foul trouble. And as always, SF Jimmy Butler (24.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG) will be asked to lead the way for Chicago. Butler has played like an MVP candidate this season, and he’ll need to come ready to go in this one. He dominated the Wizards when the teams met in November, going off for 37 points, nine assists and eight boards in 38 minutes of action.