There are many issues with the Bulls. But one of the biggest is they’ve lost all benefit of the doubt because of their maddeningly inconsistent play earlier this season. Because of that, the fact they’ve been decimated by injuries is easily overlooked.
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SCHEDULING
The front end of a back-to-back in Miami is the next stop for the Bulls, who will play for the third time in five days. Every team has to deal with scheduling quirks and games on consecutive nights. It’s just much harder when that team is as depleted as Chicago is right now. Four of the Bulls top six rotation players sat on Saturday night in a loss to Portland, including Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. The Bulls, who have had eight players injured since Jan. 9, trail only the Suns in games missed to injury since that date. Chicago has lost five straight on the road and are just 1-4 ATS in that span. Things should be getting better for the Bulls when the injuries start to heal, unfortunately, it just might be too late for them.
The Heat have their own injury concerns but ended a two-game skid with a win Sunday at the Knicks to split their back-to-back road games. They return to the AAC where they are just 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five. Miami will move forward without Chris Bosh, whose playing career for the season and beyond looks to be in doubt. The addition of Joe Johnson should help alleviate some of the stress with Bosh experiencing blood clots again, a problem that cost him time last season. Overall the Heat are playing well with a 10-5 SU record and 11-4 ATS in their last 15. Miami’s win in Chicago as a 7-point dog started the current run.
INJURIES
Rose missed his third straight game Saturday night as he continues to deal with hamstring soreness. The Bulls don’t seem outwardly concerned about the injury, but it remains unclear when he will be able to play again. Jimmy Butler is progressing in his recovery from a knee sprain suffered on Feb. 5, but is still “a ways away” from playing in a game, according to coach Fred Hoiberg.
Backup point guard Beno Udrih had surgery on his right foot and is done for the year. The Heat have already lost Tyler Johnson to season-ending shoulder surgery and will also be without Bosh, who is dealing with blood clots in his left leg. Bosh will undergo more tests and could be out for the remainder of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
The Heat wanted Joe Johnson for the stretch run, and Johnson wanted the Heat. It was a perfect fit. One that coach Erik Spoelstra feels can take Miami to a run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In his pregame comments Sunday, Spoelstra sounded giddy about adding Johnson. The Heat coach spoke of being “really excited” to add a player with “class” and “professionalism” that “fits our culture.” That was evident when he gave Johnson the start at small forward just over 24 hours after signing him. Johnson hit a three on his first shot in a Heat uniform and scored 12 points. More importantly, Miami beat New York, 98-81, to break a two-game losing streak. Johnson becomes a main figure in the Heat lineup with several players out with injuries, and is the team’s best three-point threat with Bosh sidelined. The veteran was floundering in Brooklyn, averaging a career-low 11.8 points per game and had seen that number decrease in each of his four seasons with the Nets. Now, on a team that is a playoff contender and wants him in the lineup, Johnson could return to the form that saw him average better than 20 points in five straight seasons.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Both teams are faced with major injury concerns right now, but the Heat made a move to strengthen their club while the Bulls are watching their season go to waste. Miami’s signing of Johnson is a huge move. Wasting away with the dysfunctional Nets, Johnson negotiated a buyout and signed with Miami, with some encouragement from Dwyane Wade. Johnson is a versatile player and fits in well with the Heat. He’ll also get a chance to play for a contending team, something he desperately wanted.
Miami 98, Chicago 95
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