Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 1/15/2018

Monday, January 15, 2018

United Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to United Center to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday, January 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago as 1 point favorites.

The Heat come into this game with an overall record of 24-17. They are 1st in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.0 as they are averaging 101.0 points per game while giving up 102.0 per contest. The Bulls have an overall mark of 16-27. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They are averaging 102.4 points per contest and giving up 108.3, which is a point differential of -5.9.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 18-21-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 16-23-2 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 25-16-2 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 25-18-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

01/13/18 F James Johnson Suspension Served is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Milwaukee
01/13/18 F Justise Winslow Knee is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Milwaukee
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 14 points per game in 25.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.7 assists per contest and 11.8 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 71%. Goran Dragic comes into this contest averaging 17 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 4.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is currently at 77%.

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen averages 15.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per contest and 1.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Kris Dunn averages 13.8 points per game while playing 29.6 minutes per contest this year for the Bulls. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per game and has 6.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 102 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they give up 20.1 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the league. Miami averages 101 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.02 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 16th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 41.6 rebounds per game and 21.3 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 15 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls surrender 108.3 points per contest, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 24.8 assists allowed per contest, and 28th with 45.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season. Chicago is 24th in the league with 102.4 points per game this year. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -5.91. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 16th in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game and 5th in assists per contest with 23.6. The Bulls are 22nd in turnovers per game with 14.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 18th. They are 28th in the NBA in pace with 94.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 8th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. Miami is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 21st in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 25th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA. The Bulls are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 109.6, and their offensive rating of 103.6 is ranked 8th. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 26th. As a unit they are 29th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Miami +1

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