Heat vs Bulls: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More
The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls are the premier teams in the NBA, and they clash tonight at the United Center.
Now before you cancel all of your plans for the evening, the Bulls team that takes the court could be devoid of some key players.
The reigning MVP, Derrick Rose, could be one of them.
Rose and other Bulls are questionable for the game as they try to snap the Heat's five-game win streak against them.
The Bulls have been playing extremely well as of late. Despite a disappointing home loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday, they have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Bulls have the best record in the NBA, and the Heat have the third-best mark.
Even with injuries, anytime these two juggernauts meet, it will draw a crowd. Let's take a closer look at this matchup.
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
When: Wednesday, March 14, 9:30 p.m. ET
Watch: Comcast Sports Chicago, ESPN
Listen: ESPN 1000 AM (Chicago), WIOD 610 AM (Miami)
Betting Line: Bulls -2.5, (subject to change pending Derrick Rose's status)
Live Stream: NBA League Pass and ESPN3
Key Injuries
Chicago: Derrick Rose (groin) questionable, Richard Hamilton (shoulder) out, C.J. Watson (ankle) out, Luol Deng (wrist) should play.
Miami: No key injuries.
What's at Stake?
Not as much as you would think from reading the marquee.
If the Bulls are without Rose and/or Deng, the game won't tell us much. Moreover, without Hamilton, the Bulls' only significant addition from last year's team that lost to the Heat in the playoffs, it tells us even less.
For Bulls fans, if a short-handed team can somehow pull out a victory, it gives them something to be happy about. But last season taught us that the regular season means nothing when the playoffs roll around.
The Bulls swept Miami in the 2010-2011 regular season but were beaten in five games in the Eastern Conference finals.
What They're Saying
Despite having the league's best record for the second year in a row, the Bulls and head coach Tom Thibodeau know the pecking order in the East. He said this to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
"We’re chasing them," Thibodeau said. "They’re the Eastern Conference champions from last year. We have to come out and play hard.
"
Until the Bulls send the Heat home in a playoff series, they will be forced to look at things this way.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was still talking about the Heat's tough loss in OT to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Miami Herald quotes him:
"We had opportunities in the fourth quarter and in overtime, but we weren't able to capitalize on them. It was a very competitive game," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.
"
The Heat will be hungry in this one, and that loss gives the Magic wins over the Bulls and Heat in the span of a week.
Chicago Player to Watch: Carlos Boozer
In a worst-case scenario, Rose and Deng would miss this game. That will put a ton of the scoring load on Carlos Boozer. He must step up and deliver offensively if a short-handed Bulls team is to have a shot in this one.
Even if the Bulls are close to full strength, they still need a big game from Boozer.
Miami Player to Watch: LeBron James
What's new?
When aren't we watching LeBron?
The most polarizing athlete in the world will be in action again. If the Bulls don't have Deng to match up with him, then he will probably have a huge game.
If Deng is there, he may still have a huge game.
That is why he's a safe bet for the Heat player to watch every night.
Key Matchup: Carlos Boozer vs. Chris Bosh
This matchup will determine who wins a potential series between the two teams and tonight's game. Boozer has not fared well against Bosh since he joined the Bulls.
In nine games, here are the two players' numbers:
- Bosh: 21 points and 7.6 rebounds per game
- Boozer: 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game
If that persists tonight, the Bulls will be in trouble.
Prediction
Without Rose: Heat 104, Bulls 94.
With Rose: Bulls 97, Heat 94.
The Bulls are 57-5 at home over the past two seasons. Though it doesn't tell much in the grand scheme of things, they will win if Rose plays.
If he doesn't, the role players will play well, but the Bulls will come up short.
