NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls, Game 3

The Miami Heat are 8-2 against the spread as road favorites of 6.5 to nine points dating back to the start of the regular season, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks on Friday as they take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Heat are laying seven points in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 188 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 3 of this Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, while offering up a prediction on the betting total along the way.   

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat came away with a 115-78 blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls as 13-point home favorites on Wednesday night. They shot 60 percent overall from the field.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Heat are 9-4 straight up and against the spread in the second round of the playoffs, with the OVER going 8-5 in that situation. 

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have compiled a disappointing 14-30 against-the-spread record at home since the start of the 2012-13 NBA regular season, but they did cover the number in their only opportunity as an underdog of 6.5 to nine points in that situation.

Total players will find that the UNDER is 10-4 in the last 14 series meetings in the Windy City.  

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers play the first-half total as one of their NBA playoff picks on Friday, as the UNDER is 9-4 in the Chicago Bulls' last 13 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points.

NBA Pick: Under 94.5 First Half

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