Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat Point Spread Picks

The second of a back-to-back, after both teams faced each other last night, a 125-118 Chicago win. Chicago is playing its third game in four nights, after holding Miami to 43%. The Bulls were without six players who are injured, including second-leading scorer Josh Giddey (18.6 ppg) and sixth-leading scorer Tre Jones (12.4 ppg), both with hamstring ailments. The Bulls are on a 20-12 run UNDER the total. Miami is ninth defensively in field goal shooting allowed (46.2%). They're also short-handed, without their top two scorers, Norman Powell (23 ppg) and Tyler Herro (21.9 ppg). Play Chicago/Miami UNDER the total.

Chicago has gone UNDER four of five following Thursday's 116-113 loss to the Heat, and now they meet again in a rare three-game series in a four-day span. The game stayed UNDER by 8.5 points as the Bulls shot 39 percent overall and 39 percent from 3-point distance. The Bulls are dealing with several injuries, including Josh Giddey, who is day-to-day with continuing hamstring issues. Coby White is questionable (calf), and Nikola Vecevic could be rested after playing three games in four days. Chicago is 26-22 UNDER this season. Miami has won the past three meetings dating back to last season, allowing just 103.3 points per game. The Heat are missing Norman Powell due to personal issues and Tyler Herro due to a toe injury. Take the UNDER.

Once again, the Bulls showed how unreliable and untrustworthy they are, blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to Indiana in a 113-110 road loss to the Pacers last night. Indiana is 12-36. Miami also played and lost on Wednesday night, falling to the Magic, 133-124, at home. Now both teams have to play without rest because this game was rescheduled from Jan. 8, when unplayable court conditions at the United Center forced a postponement. It is the first of three matchups against the Bulls in a four-day span for Miami. The Heat stomped the Bulls, 143-107, at Chicago on Nov. 21 in the first meeting between the two teams this season. Miami has won three of its past four away games. The Heat outscore the Bulls by two points a game and are the better defensive team. Chicago has been playing better defense lately. If you discount a 129-118 loss to the Lakers two games ago, the Bulls are giving up an average of 110.5 points per game in their last six games. That is nearly 10 points below their season defensive average. Take the Heat and the UNDER.