Miami Heat (38-33) vs. Chicago Bulls (32-37)
March 18, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Bulls +2.5; Over/Under: +220
(Get latest betting odds)
The Miami Heat pay a visit to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Saturday night.
The Miami Heat have been in fine form as they’ve won five of their last seven games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after blowing past the Grizzlies in a 138-119 win on Wednesday. Bam Adebayo led the team with 26 points on 10 of 15 shooting, Tyler Herro added 24 points with six assists while Jimmy Butler tallied 23 points with eight rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Heat shot 59 percent from the field and 13 of 29 from the 3-point line as they took control of the game with 34 points in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead into halftime, before they exploded for 42 points in the third quarter to push the margin out to 28 points.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been heating up lately as they’ve won three of their past four games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after outlasting the Timberwolves in a 139-121 double overtime win last night. DeMar DeRozan led the team with 49 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, Zach LaVine added 39 points with five assists while Nikola Vucevic chipped in with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Bulls shot 54 percent from the field and 11 of 24 from the 3-point line as they rallied back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to extend the game before the ran away with it in the second overtime period.
Looking at the betting trends, the Heat are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games, 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 games against a team with a losing record and 5-14 ATS in their last 19 games overall. The Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games, 2-7 ATS in their last nine games against a team with a winning record and 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Head to head, the over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings overall and the Heat are 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings in Chicago.
The Heat could be shorthanded again as Kyle Lowry is questionable, while the Bulls are still missing Javonte Green. The Heat have been building nicely with five wins in their past seven games and they look great in their dominant win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday, but the Bulls are coming into this one with plenty of momentum after taking down the Timberwolves in a thrilling double overtime win last night. You can make an argument for either side here, but the Heat have been the more consistent team and I think they take care of business here.
