NEWSLETTER
One down, one to go!
Let’s do it all over again tonight in Miami with the playoffs on the line, shall we?
Game Info
Chicago Bulls (40-42) at Miami Heat (44-38) – 6:00 p.m. CT on TNT (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starting Lineups
Chicago Bulls
- Patrick Beverley
- Alex Caruso
- Zach LaVine
- DeMar DeRozan
- Nikola VuÄević
Injury Report: None
Miami Heat
- Tyler Herro
- Gabe Vincent
- Max Struss
- Jimmy Butler
- Bam Adebayo
Injury Report: Jimmy Butler PROBABLE (personal), Gabe Vincent PROBABLE (back), Kyle Lowry QUESTIONABLE (knee), Nikola Jovic OUT (back)
Odds
The Bulls come into tonight’s game as 5-point underdogs against the Heat at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and 5.5-point underdogs at FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite …)!
What to Watch For
- Zach LaVine just keeps getting better. He was so damn good in the second half on Wednesday night and is proving day after day that he’s finally taken the next step as an elite scorer the Bulls can build around. LaVine dropped 39 points in the do-or-die matchup in Toronto helping the Bulls claw back from a 19-point deficit. Zach was fine from three going 2-for-7, but the most impressive part of the night was his ability to drive and get himself to the free-throw line. LaVine went 13-for-15 from the charity stripe. The Bulls are going up against a Miami team that lacks size and lacks depth in terms of their bigs. I want to see Zach attack the rim early and often in this one.
- Diar DeRozan might not be in the building, but at least DeMar will be. DeMar had himself a really solid game in Toronto including a highlight reel dunk on his way to 23 points in the win. While Zach is taking the mantle as the go-to scorer for this team, the version the Bulls saw of DeRozan on Tuesday night is one they can win with. LaVine, DeRozan, and Vooch all excelled in their roles in the second half of that win. When they play like that together, the Bulls can play with anyone.
- Ultimately, the winner of this game likely just gets fed to the Bucks to lose in 5. I don’t think the Bulls can beat the Bucks, but I am intrigued to see if this team has improved at all from last year’s 4-1 loss to Milwaukee. Their record is worse obviously, but Zach has taken the next step. Coby White has grown a ton this season. Patrick Beverley and Alex Caruso have helped make the Bulls one of the best defenses in the NBA. I’m really hoping we get to see how the Bulls stack up (and likely where they fall short).
- Don’t care how many years it’s been, it still stings seeing Jimmy Butler in another uniform. Hope he loses tonight, but outside of games against the Bulls it’s nearly impossible for me to not root for that guy.
