Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Game 5 Prediction, Betting Odds, Rajon Rondo News

Just as quickly as the Chicago Bulls took a 2-0 series lead in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics won two straight road games and tied the series at 2-2. Heading into Game 5 Wednesday night at TD Garden, the No.1 seed seems to be in control.

The series turned with the injury to Rajon Rondo. Chicago’s point guard was terrific in the team’s two victories, nearly averaging a triple-double. But a right thumb and wrist injury have forced him to miss the last two contests, allowing Boston to get back into the series.

Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg ruled Rondo out for Game 5 Tuesday, but it appears there’s a chance he’ll be able to play. ESPN reports that Rondo held a workout Tuesday night to see if he would be ready to get back on the court.

“He wants to play bad,” one source close to Rondo said Tuesday night, according to ESPN. “As of right now, it's still tender and he's erring on the side of waiting until Game 6. But knowing him, he could change his mind in the morning and try to play.”

The Bulls have been a completely different team without Rondo in the playoffs, averaging 17.5 fewer points and allowing more than five more points per contest. Isaiah Canaan will get the start if Rondo can’t go.

Canaan wasn’t much of a contributor in the regular season, averaging just 4.6 points in 39 games. He managed to hit three of seven three-pointers in Game 4, though that probably won’t continue since he shot 26.6 percent from behind the arc this year.

Jimmy Butler has tried to pick up even more of the offensive load, but he can only do so much without big performances from Dwyane Wade. The shooting guard is scoring just 15.5 points per game against Boston, looking very different from the player that reached the NBA Finals five times with the Miami Heat.

Isaiah Thomas might have been the biggest beneficiary of Rondo’s absence. No longer being blanketed by Chicago’s point guard, Thomas was able to score 33 points and dish out seven assists in the Game 4 victory. Known as a defensive liability, Thomas’ weakness isn’t as big of an issue with Rondo on the bench.

With two straight wins, the Celtics appear to have their mojo back, looking like the team that finished ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the East. They are 7.5-point favorites in Game 5, via OddsShark, and Boston should be able to take care of business at home. The over/under is 203.

Game 5 is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. EDT. TNT will have the TV coverage, and fans can watch a free live stream online with tntdrama.com.

Prediction: Boston over Chicago, 105-94