The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat are fighting for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Today, we’ll get a preview of what could be the Eastern Conference Finals. The Chicago Bulls are still dealing with a few injuries after losing the Grizzlies. Facing the Miami Heat is a tough test, but there is some good news. Both Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan are active.
The Miami Heat have a few injuries piling up on their side as well, but that hasn’t stopped them. They’ve gone 3-0 over the course of their last three games and are looking for their fourth. Their focus tonight will be on the two superstars of the Bulls. If they can find a way to stop those two, they can win this game. If not, the Miami Heat could see themselves tied again for the top spot. Check out our same game parlay picks below.
Game Preview: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat
The Chicago Bulls rank among the best scoring offenses in the NBA. Currently ranked eighth, the Bulls averaged 112.57 points per game. Their offense will be even better tonight, considering both Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are in action. However, the key tonight might not be having a strong offense. They’ll have to find a way to slow down the Heat and Jimmy Butler.
Miami’s last three games have all been pretty dominant victories. One of the reasons they’ve been able to get this win streak going is their nearly impeccable defense. On average, the Miami Heat only allow 104.77 points per game, ranking fifth in the NBA. Bam Adebayo has been on fire recently, scoring 36 points against the Spurs. They’ll look to him for another strong game tonight.
Against the Spread: Chicago Bulls +4
The Chicago Bulls have gone 15-13 on the road this season and are 14-13-1 ATS on the road. They have a strong offense, and there are some injuries to be worried about on the Heat. Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, and Markieff Morris are all ruled out for this game. Taking those injuries into consideration, we’ll take the Chicago Bulls +4 in this matchup.
The Total: Over 224.5
Each of these teams has hit the over on the total more often than the under this season. The Chicago Bulls are 32-27-2 against the total while the Heat are 37-24. Over their last ten games against each other, the total has gone over seven times. The last time these two played, they went well over the expected total. We expect a similar result when they face off tonight.
Player Points: DeMar DeRozan UNDER 30.5
Each of these teams has players that they look to for scoring. For the Bulls, it’s DeMar DeRozan. However, the Heat knows this and can plan for it by slowing him down with Jimmy Butler. Because of this, we don’t believe DeRozan will be able to score over 30.5 points. He’ll likely get near it, but have to rely on Zach LaVine to do a lot of scoring as well.
To score 15+ Points: Bam Adebayo
In this game, Bam Adebayo is going to play a major part. Nikola Vucevic is still dealing with an injury and could see limited court time. Adebayo will become a significant part of Miami’s scoring tonight, as he also averages 19 points per game. Add Bam Adebayo to score 15+ Points -440 to your single-game parlay tonight, and don’t forget to take a look at our NBA computer picks.