The Chicago Bulls are slight 1.5-point underdogs heading into Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on Friday, starting at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup’s over/under is 205.5.
Heat vs. Bulls Odds
How to Bet on Heat vs. Bulls
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Heat vs. Bulls?
Heat and Bulls Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
When they have played as at least 1.5-point favorites this season, the Heat are 21-21-2 against the spread.
In games they have played as at least 1.5-point underdogs this year, the Bulls are 24-22 against the spread.
The Heat and Bulls average 16.9 more points between them than the total of 205.5 for this matchup.
Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 222.1 points per game, 16.6 more than the point total in this matchup.
The average over/under the Heat have had set in games this year is 13.0 more points than this outing’s point total.
The average over/under for Chicago’s games this season is 20.5 more points than the point total of 205.5 for this outing.
Miami has a 40-39-3 record against the spread this season.
The Bulls are 41-40-1 against the spread this year.
Heat Stats & Insights
The Heat outscore opponents by 1.7 points per game (scoring 110.1 points per game to rank 26th in the league while allowing 108.4 per outing to rank third in the NBA) and have a +144 scoring differential overall.
The 42.3 rebounds per game the Heat average rank 25th in the league. Their opponents collect 42.8 per outing.
Miami hits 12.5 three-pointers per game (18th in the league) at a 37.0% rate (12th in the NBA), compared to the 13.0 its opponents make while shooting 35.3% from beyond the arc.
The Heat average 115.0 points per 100 possessions on offense (21st in the league), and give up 113.1 points per 100 possessions (fifth in the NBA).
The Heat have been better offensively at home, where they average 112.1 points per game, compared to on the road, where they average 108.1 per game. Defensively, they are worse at home, where they give up 110.2 points per game, versus playing on the road, where they let their opponents to average 106.6 per game.
Bulls Stats & Insights
The Bulls put up 112.3 points per game (22nd in league) while giving up 113.7 per outing (16th in NBA). They have a -118 scoring differential and have been outscored by 1.4 points per game.
Chicago grabs 43.8 rebounds per game (14th in league), compared to the 43.4 of its opponents.
The Bulls connect on 3.1 fewer threes per contest than the opposition, 11.5 (26th in the league) compared to their opponents’ 14.6.
The Bulls rank 19th in the NBA with 115.8 points scored per 100 possessions, and 22nd defensively with 117.3 points conceded per 100 possessions.
Chicago is scoring fewer points at home (111.5 per game) than away (113.0).
Heat Key Players to Watch
Bam Adebayo averages 19.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, with 3.9 assists.
The Heat get 2.8 three-pointers per game out of Duncan Robinson.
Adebayo racks up 1.1 steals and swats 0.9 shots per game.
Bulls Key Players to Watch
DeMar DeRozan takes the top spot on the Bulls scoring and assist lists among active players, tallying 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game.
Nikola Vucevic has per-game averages of 18.0 points, 3.3 assists and 10.5 rebounds this season.
Coby White hits 2.6 threes per game.
The Bulls’ defensive efforts get a boost from Alex Caruso (1.7 steals and 1.0 block per game).
Heat vs. Bulls Prediction
Over (205.5)
Heat 114 – Bulls 108