NBA Saturday April 2nd Heat at Bulls Betting Preview
Start of a Rough Stretch for Chicago
Billy Donovan hopes that his team has some momentum coming into the April 2nd Heat at Bulls betting matchup. Chicago’s 135-130 OT comeback win over the Clippers on Thursday night might have been the boost that keeps them out of the play-in tournament as the Bulls now sit in the #5 seed – tied with Toronto at #6 but also with a comfortable 3-game cushion over #7 Cleveland with 5 games to play.
At 49-28 Miami should be resting comfortably over the last week of the regular season as they prepare for the playoffs, but the Heat have found themselves in a dogfight for the #1 seed in the East. Milwaukee and Boston are both within 1.5 games of the Heat for home court through the conference playoffs, so once again Saturday night’s game becomes must-win for Miami.
Butler Back in the Building
It’s been since 2017 since Jimmy Butler played with the Bulls – the team that drafted him – but his return to the United Center is still always special. Butler has had yet another injury plagued season, but he’s gone for at least 24 points in three of the last four. That being said, Butler hasn’t been much of a factor vs. Chicago this season, scoring 15 and 18 points and missing the December meeting – the Heat are also 3-0 in those games.
Aside from Butler, the two main players to watch for Miami in the April 2nd Heat at Bulls betting contest are Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo. Chicago has been getting torched at the PG position, most recently by the Clippers’ Reggie Jackson scoring 34 points on Thursday. The Bulls are also weak on the interior, giving up double digit rebounds to four of the last five starting centers they’ve faced.
Chicago the Play at Home?
A lot of Bulls backers ripped up their virtual tickets on Thursday night, with Chicago giving -2.5 points to the Clippers but being down 16 points at one span in the 2nd half. Those bettors didn’t know DeMar DeRozan time was coming though, as he went for 17 points in the 4th quarter and another 10 in OT to fuel the Bulls 135-130 win over Los Angeles. DeRozan was red hot and then had some down games, but it looks like he’s back after going for 37, 32, and 50 the last three games.
There is an elephant in the room in Saturday night’s game, and that’s the fact that Chicago is 0-16 against the top three seeds in each conference this season. That definitely includes Miami, who is #1 in the East and who have already gone 3-0 vs. the Bulls this season. Chicago’s next two games are against Milwaukee and Boston, so if they go to 0-17 they still have two chances to right that ship.
April 2nd Heat at Bulls Betting Info
Miami is a -2 point favorite in this matchup but Chicago is also 27-10 at the United Center this season. Since the Bulls are so bad against top teams, that gives value to both squads in this matchup. 68% of public bettors are backing the visiting Heat here.
April 2nd Heat at Bulls Betting Pick
Miami can exploit Chicago on the interior and at the PG position, and the Heat have to be more invested in this game as they try to hold on to the #1 spot in the East. While Chicago has been solid at home, they’ve also been bad against good teams and there’s no reason to think that doesn’t continue on Saturday night at the UC.
Free Pick: Heat -2
