The 17-13 Chicago Bulls will travel to play the 22-8 Miami Heat in an NBA pro basketball game on Friday night. Tip off time from Miami is scheduled for 8PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.
The current NBA odds from this game have the home team Miami Heat favored by -9 points with an over under line of 191 points. When the odds came out in this game a few hours ago Miami was favored by -8 points and the total of 191 ½ points. There has been a one point move on Miami and a ½ point move on the over.
The teams met four times last season with each team winning twice on their home court. The Bulls covered the spread in three of the four games.
The Bulls are 8-5 on the road this season. After a bad ten point home loss to Charlotte the Bulls respond with the 96-94 road win at Orlando Magic as a -3 point betting favorite. The game ended over 184 points. Chicago is getting by with defense as they await the return of Derrick Rose to the lineup sometime after the all-star break. The team is third in scoring defense giving up just 91 points a game. Joakim Noah missed the Magic game with the flu but is expected to play on Friday. The Bulls have struggled for scoring this season with just a 92 point per game average ranking 27th in the league.
The Heat is 15-2 straight up on their home court on the year. After back to back losses at Milwaukee and Detroit the Heat has won two straight games. The host Dallas on Wednesday and wins 119-109 in overtime as a -10 ½ point betting favorite. The game went over 205 points. It was the fourth straight game for Miami to allow well over 100 points a game. Lebron James had a solid performance with 32 points and 12 boards on 11 of 20 shooting. James is listed as probable for Friday with a knee contusion. Chicago will be challenged offensively on Friday as the Heat at home averages 107 points and over 50% shooting.
