On Saturday, the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls will face off in an Eastern Conference game at the United Center. The game will start in Chicago at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Heat vs. Bulls injuries: 3 Questionable, 2 Out
The Chicago Bulls (32-37) will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back series. While it will be first of a road back-to-back for the Miami Heat (38-33).
On Sunday, as part of a back-to-back weekend, the Heat will travel to last-place Detroit. Miami has won two consecutive games at home, against Utah and Memphis, and will look to make it three in a row on Saturday.
Bam Adebayo scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor to lead three Miami players in double figures in the Heat’s win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday. Jimmy Butler scored 23 points and grabbed 8 boards.
Butler has scored at least 23 points in six consecutive games, with his season high coming in the Heat’s most recent loss when he scored 38 points.
Due in large part to Butler’s scoring prowess, Miami’s offense increased from its NBA-worst 109.1 points per game average over a six-game stretch.
Jimmy Butler is the team’s top scorer so far this season. He scores 22.6 points per game while shooting 52.6% from the field and adding 6.1 boards and 5.1 assists on average.
Going into tonight’s game against Chicago, the Heat are seventh in the East and atop the play-in group of four teams.
After beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-131 in double overtime on Friday, the Chicago Bulls climbed into the 10th spot in the standings.
The Bulls’ win on Friday was their third in the last four contests.
On Friday, in a 139-131 double-overtime victory over the Timberwolves, DeRozan scored 49 points (15-25 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 17-18 FT), grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and swiped 3 steals in 52 minutes of action.
DeRozan’s 49 points are the most he’s ever scored in a single season and the third-most he’s ever scored in a single game in his entire professional career. Chicago’s late heroics sent the game into overtime, as they outscored Minnesota 33-23 in the final period.
The Bulls have been on a roll recently, winning three of their last four games, but Saturday’s game against Miami will be a tough test in the second half of a back-to-back.
With a victory on Saturday, the Bulls can sweep the season series against the Heat. Chicago’s 113-103 victory in Miami on December 20 followed an opening road win of 116-108.
Saturday’s game is the last of the year for these two squads to square off.
Injury report Bulls
- Javonte Green (Knee) – Questionable
- Lonzo Ball (Knee) – Out for the season
- Justin Lewis (Knee) – Out for the season
Injury report Heat
- Kyle Lowry (Knee) – Questionable
- Cody Zeller (Nose) – Questionable
