Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 3/29/2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Chicago Bulls travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Thursday, March 29, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 13 point favorites.

The Bulls come into this game with an overall record of 24-50. They are 5th in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of -7.1 as they are averaging 103.1 points per game while giving up 110.2 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 40-35. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 103.3 points per game and surrendering 102.8, good for a point differential of 0.5.

Valuable Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 37-35-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 40-34-0 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 38-31-6 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 34-38-3 against the over/under

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

03/27/18 F Cristiano Felicio Back left last game, is "?" Thursday vs Miami
03/27/18 G Kris Dunn Toe is "?" Thursday vs Miami
03/27/18 F Paul Zipser Foot is "?" Thursday vs Miami
03/22/18 G Zach LaVine Knee is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/28/18 C Hassan Whiteside Hip is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Chicago
03/27/18 C Bam Adebayo Ankle is "?" Thursday vs Chicago
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen averages 14.9 points per game in 30.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.2 assists per contest and 7.5 rebounds per game for Chicago. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%. Denzel Valentine comes into this contest averaging 10.4 points per game while playing 27.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Bulls. He pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%.

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.4 rebounds per contest and 2.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Goran Dragic averages 17.4 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 4 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls allow 110.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 24th and 23rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.7 rebounds a game which ranks 28th, and they give up 25.8 assists per contest which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league. Chicago averages 103.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -7.07 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 30th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 44.7 rebounds per game and 23.6 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 20th with 13.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 102.8 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.7 assists allowed per contest, and 13th with 42.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season. Miami is 24th in the league with 103.3 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 0.48. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 43 boards per game and 16th in assists per contest with 22.8. The Heat are 15th in turnovers per game with 14.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 111.2, and their offensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 5th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 28th. As a unit they are 30th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA. Chicago is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 11th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Heat are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 15th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Bulls/Heat NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Chicago +13

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