The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls are all square in their best-of-seven second-round playoff series as those teams meet in Game 3 on Friday night with LeBron James and company the betting favorites.
Miami bounced back from a Game 1 loss with a 115-78 blowout victory as a 13-point home favorite in Game 2 of the series on Wednesday night. Chicago had pulled off the upset in Game 1 with a 93-86 road victory as a 13-point underdog at the books.
Supporters of the Heat have seen them go 66-16 and 46-36 ATS so far this season, while the Bulls are at 45-37 and 36-46 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). In totals betting, the Bulls are 37-45, while the Heat are 43-39.
View Miami vs Chicago Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Chicago opened as 6.5-point underdogs at online sportsbook Sportsbook, while the NBA total was sitting around 188 at Sportsbook for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new Power Rankings at Odds Shark, it's the No. 13-rated Bulls and the No. 6-rated Heat in this matchup. Predictive computer formulas point to a 104-96 win for the Heat on Friday.
How They Match Up:
In rebounding, the battle of the boards features Chicago's No. 8-rated squad against Miami's No. 30-rated roster. When it comes to long-range shooting, Chicago rates No. 29 in the league with 5.4 per game, while their foes tonight rank No. 3 with 8.7 per outing.
Defensively, the Heat feature the league's No. 3-rated defense on the road, giving up 94.4 points per game. Chicago, meanwhile, comes in at No. 30 in the league in scoring at home.
Chicago lost its last outing, a 115-78 result against the Heat on May 8. The Bulls failed to cover in that game as a 13-point underdog, while the 193 combined points took the game OVER the total. Chicago was run off the court by the Heat on Wednesday as Miami blasted them 115-78 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Miami Heat Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Chicago are 7-3
After playing Chicago are 9-1
After a win are 9-1
Chicago Bulls Trends:
When playing on Friday are 8-2
Before playing Miami are 9-1
After playing Miami are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
A few Heat at Bulls trends to consider:
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Miami is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Miami's last 14 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games at home
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Chicago is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Miami
Next up:
Miami at Chicago, Monday, May 13
Chicago home to Miami, Monday, May 13
