The Chicago Bulls (25-34) are in South Beach Friday for an 8 p.m. ET game with the host Miami Heat (31-29) at American Airlines Arena. Below, we analyze the Bulls-Heat odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Chicago has won three of the last four games (3-1 against the spread) with the latest game being a 108-91 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets Thursday.
Before this stretch, the Bulls were on a five-game losing skid from April 9-16 (0-5 ATS). Chicago has slid to 11th in the Eastern Conference, 1 game behind 10th place Washington Wizards for the final postseason play-in entry.
Miami had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 118-103 beatdown last night by the Atlanta Hawks as 6.5-point road favorites.
The 7th place Heat are trying to play their way out of play-in postseason status since seeds seven through 10 participate in the play-in tournament.
The Heat trounced the Bulls in their first meeting this season, 101-90, as 2-point road favorites.
Bulls at Heat: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bulls +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Heat -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bulls +4.5 (-110) | Heat -4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 205.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Bulls at Heat: Key injuries
Bulls
- SF Patrick Williams (heel) probable
- SG Zach LaVine (health and safety protocols) out
Heat
- SG Victor Oladipo (knee) out
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Bulls at Heat: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Heat 109, Bulls 97
Money line (ML)
PASS because Miami should get a W tonight, but the Heat (-190) is a little out of my price range.
Also, Miami’s blowout loss to an Atlanta team last night without its leading scorer and assist man (Trae Young) and leading rebounder (Clint Capela) is further proof of the randomness in the NBA this season.
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Against the spread (ATS)
“LEAN” to the HEAT -4.5 (-110) for a half unit because beat the Bulls by 11 points in their first meeting despite a now-injured LaVine scored an efficient 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting with 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
LaVine’s absence, Miami’s motivation after last night’s embarrassing loss and the Heat winning three straight against the Bulls by at least five points are too strong of angles.
That being said, Miami is 2-6 ATS when playing with a rest disadvantage and 9-13-1 ATS as a home favorite while Chicago is 14-6 ATS as a road dog.
Over/Under (O/U)
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 205.5 (-110) for a quarter unit because BetMGM has a really sharp total for Bulls-Heat.
However, the Under has cashed in five of six Bulls-Heat meetings, in three of Miami’s past four games and in three of Chicago’s past four games.
Also, we are getting to this party a little late as the Bulls-Heat opened with a 210-point total, but it has been steamed down because of the pro-Under action.
Furthermore, this is a “pros vs. Joes” situation in the betting market as the money (“pros”) are on the Under while there have been more bets placed (“average Joe”) on the Under, according to Pregame.com.
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