Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls NBA Picks & Predictions 11/23/2018

Friday, November 23, 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 Friday, November 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 6.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 6-11. They are 4th in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -1.9 as they average 108.3 points per contest while giving up 110.2 per game. The Bulls have an overall record of 5-13 this season. They are 4th in the Central Division. They average 104.2 points per game and surrender 113.6, good for a point differential of -9.4.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 6-11-0 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 11-6-0 against the over/under

Important Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls are 9-9-0 against the spread

The Chicago Bulls are 7-11-0 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

11/22/18 G Tyler Johnson Hamstring is questionable Friday vs Chicago
11/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

11/21/18 SF Chandler Hutchison Back is questionable Friday vs Miami
10/25/18 F Bobby Portis Knee is out 4-6 weeks
10/23/18 PG Kris Dunn Knee is out 4-6 weeks
10/20/18 G Denzel Valentine Ankle is out indefinitely
09/28/18 F Lauri Markkanen Elbow is out 6-8 weeks

Player Spotlight

Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 20.1 points per game while playing 35.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 85%. Hassan Whiteside averages 13.8 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 14.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 58%.

Player Spotlight

Zach Lavine averages 25.5 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per game and has 4.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Jabari Parker averages 15.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.9 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 108.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 47.9 rebounds per game and 22.2 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 15.8 per game. The Heat allow 110.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.5 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 21.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago is 27th in the league with 104.2 points per game this year. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -9.4. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 26th in the league in rebounding with 41.4 boards per game, and 24th in assists per contest with 22.0. The Bulls are 6th in turnovers per game with 15.3. The Bulls surrender 113.6 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 24.9 assists allowed per contest and 29th with 49.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 12th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 25th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 11th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 24th. As a unit they are 26th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 12th in the NBA. Miami is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league. The Bulls are 29th in the NBA in offensive rating with 102.5, and their defensive rating of 111.7 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 100 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 21st. As a team they are 21st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Chicago +6.5

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