The Bulls are 3-0 ATS against the Heat so far in 2012 and another win tonight helps keep them ahead of Miami for playoff seed positioning.
That gives motivation to Chicago, but also to Miami in a game that remained off the board early Thursday. (Watch for the Sportsbook Bulls vs Heat point spread at Sportsbook later).
The Heat sport records of 44-17 and 30-31 ATS heading into this matchup, while the Bulls sit at 47-15 and 35-26-1 ATS on the season. The OVER/UNDER records are 25-34-2 for the Heat and 32-30 for the Bulls.
View Chicago vs Miami Odds and Stats.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Heat at No. 3 and the Bulls at No. 1 heading into this contest. Handicapping models run by the computers at Odds Shark project a 103-102 result in favor of the Bulls.
How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Bulls rank No. 1 in the league with 46.6 per game. That compares with Miami’s No. 22 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Miami is the NBA’s No. 20-ranked team at 5.6 per game, while the Bulls rate No. 17 with 6.4 per contest.
Defensively, the Bulls feature the league's No. 1-rated defense on the road, allowing 88.7 points per game. Miami, meanwhile, comes in at No. 5 in the league in scoring at home.
In their last action, Chicago was a 100-68 Sportsbook on the road against the Bobcats. They covered the 13-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (168) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Chicago cruised to victory on Wednesday, running Charlotte out of the gym and running up a 100-68 score at Time Warner Cable Arena.
The Heat were a 96-72 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Raptors. They covered the 9.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (168) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. Toronto was run off the court by the Heat on Wednesday as Miami blasted the Raptors 96-72 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Chicago Bulls Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Dallas are 4-6
After playing Charlotte are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
Miami Heat Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Washington are 4-6
After playing Toronto are 8-2
After a win are 6-4
A few Bulls at Heat trends to consider:
Chicago is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games on the road
Miami is 20-2 SU in its last 22 games at home
Miami is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 6 games at home
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
Chicago home to Dallas, Saturday, April 21
Miami home to Washington, Saturday, April 21
