Many were waiting to see if the Chicago Bulls’ hot start to the season would hold up. It hasn’t. The Bulls started the season 3-0 but dropped back to .500 with three consecutive losses before getting back on track with a win last time out. They will aim to find some success in a road matchup against the Miami Heat as Dwyane Wade returns to visit his old team.
Chicago is pushing for a playoff berth this season and needs to pile up some of these toss-up games. They could be slight road underdogs but have the ability to pull out the win.
Don't miss the hardwood action from American Airlines Arena at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Catch every moment of the game live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Heat are 2-4 straight up and have the same record against the spread. Oddsmakers know they will be down this season without Wade or Chris Bosh, but everyone is still seeing exactly what type of ceiling this group has. Miami’s wins have come against bottom-feeders the Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings, so no grand proclamations can yet be made.
The Bulls have gone 4-3 against the spread this season, including a 1-2 mark attempting to cover on the road. Chicago has lost its three games by seven points or more and it’s doubtful it would cover if that happens again.
Revenge Angle
Dwyane Wade was the face of the franchise with the Heat and won multiple championships there. He expected to retire with the team but suffered through a contentious split with the organization this offseason and joined the Bulls in free agency.
Rest assured, Wade would love to beat his former team, especially in Miami. Wade has been really impressive early in the season, averaging 17.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range.
It’s understandable that the Heat didn’t want to sign Wade to a lucrative long-term extension as he enters the twilight of his career, but that might be a bad thing in the short-term. A motivated Wade will aim to show Miami what it’s missing on his return.
Player to Watch
Hassan Whiteside - The Miami center has taken another step forward in his development, suddenly becoming one of the best big men in the entire NBA. Whiteside has gotten more shots this season without Wade and Bosh around and has taken advantage.
He’s averaging 20.0 points, 14.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, big-time numbers for a player who was unheard of just a couple years ago. Whiteside and Goran Dragic are Miami’s top players and the ones the Bulls will need to stop in order to pull out the win.
Free NBA ATS Picks
It wasn’t too long ago that these two organizations were atop the East. Miami was led by Wade and LeBron James and was a regular contender. The Bulls were their chief competition led by Derrick Rose.
Both teams look much different these days as the pieces have all gone different ways. Wade will be involved but on the other side, while LeBron is in Cleveland and Rose in New York.
The Bulls are building around Wade and Jimmy Butler, and while they have been up and down this season, seem to have enough talent to fight for a middle seed in the East. The Heat have some solid pieces in players like Whiteside, Dragic and youngster Justise Winslow, but are lacking big-time star power.
Miami has enough intelligence in the front office to get this turned around quickly, but this season will be a struggle. The Bulls should be able to head to Miami and emerge victorious behind a big game from Wade, who will enjoy every minute of it if that happens.
NBA Odds: Bulls 99, Heat 96
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
