Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls Betting Preview/Prop Picks

In what could be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat will take on the Bulls. Miami, fresh off of a big win against the Celtics, will put their defense to the test in this one.

Taking on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine won't be easy, but they're up for the challenge. With the NBA playoffs quickly approaching, this can help the Heat claim the conference. 

The gravity of this game for the Chicago Bulls can't be understated. They've had trouble the entire season with being consistent, and they can't let that happen here.

They need to host Miami and come away with a win over the leaders in the conference. Chicago has won two straight games, but they need their defense to step it up. So, who's the best bet in this one?

Miami Heat: The Defensive Powerhouse Looks For Another Win

In their most recent game, the Heat faced Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have a great offense but were held to just 98 points. Miami's defense is among the best in the NBA, ranking third overall.

The only issue we see them having is their offense not being able to capitalize on every possibility. When you're playing the Bulls, you need to score early and often. 

Considering their defense allows just 105.06 points per game, they'll rely on them heavily. Guarding DeMar DeRozan will be P.J. Tucker, who is not a bad defender at all. The Heat is an undersized team, though, so the interior is a problem for them.

Nikola Vucevic in the paint could be trouble for Miami. Though they have a great defense, they might need some offense too.

Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine, Listed as "Day-to-Day"

Every time it feels like Chicago is gaining momentum, they get hit with an injury. This time, it's Zach Lavine, who landed on the injury list after their game against the Clippers. Though they won the game, the Bulls' defense allowed a whopping 130 points.

This defense is turning into a big problem for Chicago. On average, the Chicago defense allows 111.17 points per game.

The good news is their offense has been able to offset it, for the most part. They rank fifth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 45-32.

Tonight, against the Miami Heat, we'd like to see the Chicago defense take a step forward. Miami's offense might not look good on paper, but they know how to win games. So, between these two, who's the best pick on Saturday?

Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls Betting Prediction

The last time these two teams faced, the Bulls were handed a 112-99 loss. Chicago, however, was the road team in that game, and today, they're at home.

The Bulls have a 27-10 record this season when playing at home. They have an against the spread record of 25-12 when they're at home. 

The Bulls are two-point underdogs with the total set at 220. After seeing their offense perform against the Clippers, we think they can overwhelm the Heat. Look for the Chicago Bulls to come away with a key win on Saturday night.

DunkelIndex Free Pick: Chicago Bulls +2, OVER

Prop Picks

Chicago (-115) OVER 107.5 Points

Chicago is averaging 111.7 points per game on offense, which ranks No. 11 in the league, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from 3-pt range, which both rank No. 3. Scores have gone OVER in five of the Bulls’ last seven games as a Vegas home underdog.

With Dunkel predicting a Chicago victory by the score of 115-110, take the Bulls (-115) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 107.5 points against the Heat.

Zach LaVine (-105) OVER 2.5 Threes

LaVine is averaging 2.8 threes per game on 7.1 attempts (39.2 percent). Those numbers increase to 4.3 threes on 9.7 attempts (44.8 percent) in three games versus Miami this season.

With Dunkel predicting a Bulls win with the final score going OVER the Vegas total, take LaVine (-105) to continue to be aggressive from the outside and go OVER 2.5 threes against the Heat.

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