The Miami Heat will look to extend their winning streak tonight and also earn a little revenge in the process as they take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Start time in this evening’s game is set for 8:00pm ET on TNT. NBA Odds are favoring the Heat at -3.5 against the spread and -160 on the moneyline ($160 wins $100); the game total is set at 186 points. The Bulls are drawing +140 odds to earn their second win of the season over Miami.
When these two Eastern Conference rivals first hooked up the Bulls, playing as a +7.5 against the spread road dog, scored a 96-89 win over the Heat at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade scored 30 and 22 points, respectively, in the January 4th setback, but the rest of the team connected on just 15-of-40 from the field. Chicago, which won the battle of the boards 48 to 28, got double-doubles from both Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah in the win. Boozer scored 27 points and grabbed 12 boards while Noah finished the night with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite the result of that game (or, perhaps, because of it), the odds makers are expecting the defending champs to prevail this evening. Miami has certainly played the better basketball of late as it extended its winning streak to eight games last night with a 103-90 win over the Hawks in Atlanta.
Chicago also comes in off a win (knocked off the Hornets 96-87), but it had lost four of five games prior to Tuesday night’s win in New Orleans. The Bulls have won six of the last eight regular season meetings between these two rivals, though, and they are 4-0 in their last four games against the Heat at the United Center.
Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls NBA Odds:
Miami Heat -3.5 (-110), Over 186 (-110), -160 (Moneyline)
Chicago Bulls +3.5 (-110), Under 186 (-110), +140 (Moneyline)
NBA Free Picks: Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls Betting
What NBA bettors need to know about Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls on Thursday (2/21/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Bryan Leonard, with host Steve Fezzik.