Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat betting tips and predictions for Saturday’s game in the NBA. Two Eastern Conference contenders meet up in South Beach tonight as the Miami Heat take on the Chicago Bulls. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Chicago Bulls
DeMar DeRozan means so much to this Chicago Bulls team and without him they got destroyed by the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-92 on Wednesday. He and 4 other Bulls players are in the health and safety protocols due to Covid-19, so the Bulls will be heavily shorthanded for tonight’s game. That is not the news Bulls fans want to hear as they face a team that’s beaten them 5 times in the last 6 meetings. Zach LaVine will have to step up and make up for the absence of DeRozan, he could only score 23 points in the loss at Cleveland as Chicago allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 55% from the field. Bettors have enjoyed the Bulls season so far, they’ve covered 17 times in 26 games, in their last 9 against the Heat they are 3-6 ATS.
Miami Heat
Miami is also heavily shorthanded here as both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo continue to be out. Butler is still suffering from a tailbone injury, while Adebayo will come back some time in January following surgery to his thumb. The Heat have struggled without them winning only 2 of their last 5 games, however they’ve shown life in their previous game against Milwaukee beating them 113-104 at home. In the first meeting of the season Miami did beat the Bulls 107-104 behind 19 points from Lowry, however it is worth pointing out they had both Butler and Adebayo in that game. One worrying stat ahead of tonight’s game is their home form against the Bulls, they’ve covered just once in their last 7 at FTX Arena.
With both team struggling so much with injuries, it’s hard to really give someone a clear advantage. I would slightly lean towards Miami, they are playing at home here after all. They’ve covered the spread 6 times in the last 9 head-to-head, back them to improve on that in front of their home fans.
Miami Heat – Chicago Bulls Predictions & Odds
Heat -1 Point Spread is available at -110 odds on bet365
The only way Miami is winning this games is if they perform well on the defensive end, just like they did against Milwaukee holding them to only 104 points. The previous meeting finished with just 211 points, which would result in the under tonight. These two teams are only averaging 206.8 points between them in the last 10 meetings. In Miami’s last 9 of 13 games vs Eastern Conference opponents we’ve seen the under cash, this has also been the case in Chicago’s last 6 of 9 vs Eastern Conference teams. The numbers for Miami home games and Bulls away games combine for 11-14 on the O/U, so I think we could be in for a slow paced game here. DeRozan not playing means an automatic minus of 25 points for the Bulls, while Butler and Adebayo average over 40 points between them for Miami. Just too many points sidelined, I’m not sure these two teams are capable enough to compensate for that. Let’s back the Under.
Under 211.5 Total Points is available at -110 odds on bet365
