NEWSLETTER
Thanks to the New York Knicks sucking earlier today and allowing the Cleveland Cavaliers to crush them, a Bulls victory tonight would not officially clinch a playoff series. However, they could still bring their magic number down to just 1 if they can muster their fist victory over Miami this season.
Game Info
Miami Heat (49-28) at Chicago Bulls (45-32) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Alex Caruso
2. Zach LaVine
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Javonte Green
5. Nikola Vucevic
Injury Report: Lonzo Ball OUT (knee), Zach LaVine PROBABLE (knee)
Miami Heat
1. Kyle Lowry
2. Max Strus
3. Jimmy Butler
4. PJ Tucker
5. Bam Adebayo
Injury Report: Max Strus QUESTIONABLE (shoulder), Gabe Vincent QUESTIONABLE (toe), Caleb Martin QUESTIONABLE (calf)
Miami’s Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Caleb Martin are all available for Bulls-Heat. Had been questionable
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) April 2, 2022
Odds
The Bulls walk into tonight as +2.5 underdogs against the Miami Heat at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and at a +2 underdog at the FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite, I guess …)!
In case The Final Four will be on the split-screen …
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1510284672223391750?s=20&t=kPevZNY5ONR6nRZBaa-G7Q
What to Watch For …
• Bam Adebayo could be due for a big-time game against this Bulls team. The All-Star center only mustered 8 points with 7 rebounds when these two met in December, and things weren’t a whole lot better in February when he scored 15 points with another 7 boards. Of course, his greatest value rests on the defensive end (and the Heat still won both contests), but those were still two of his calmer nights this season across the board.
• For whatever reason, Jimmy Butler has not been getting to the free-throw line as much as we’re used to in recent weeks. While he still sits 4th in the league in attempts per game with nearly 8.0 a game, he’s shot just about 6.0 a night over the past seven contests, failing to shoot more than four in four games.
• The Bulls bench has done a slightly better job contributing on the offensive end of the past few games, and they will undoubtedly have to do the same tonight. Not only does Miami have a 20-point per game scorer in Tyler Herro as part of their second unit, but sharpshooter Duncan Robinson has also taken on a bench role the past couple of games. A big-time performance from Coby White would be a big help, and perhaps Patrick Williams can continue to build on his impressive double-double performance we saw against the Clippers.
Patrick Williams Just Reminded Everyone Who the Bulls Drafted (and Other Bulls Bullets)https://t.co/zM6BeTuxEl pic.twitter.com/s0nlB8DSm2
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 1, 2022
• More in here …
An Opportunity to Clinch, Playing Disciplined Ball, Vucevic’s Stroke Returns, and Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/X7VCzdYc5X pic.twitter.com/62bfGZk10O
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 2, 2022
