Two teams inside the Eastern Conference Play-In group collide when the Miami Heat visit the Chicago Bulls tonight.

Both teams lost games on Wednesday as they will play the second half of back-to-backs.

Miami is one of the better teams playing on consecutive nights, so my Heat vs Bulls predictions and NBA picks side with the visitors to the United Center on Thursday, January 29.

Heat vs Bulls prediction

Heat vs Bulls best bet: Heat -2 (-110)

You don’t see this very often, but this is the first of three straight games between these teams, with the Chicago Bulls hosting the Miami Heat tonight before back-to-back weekend games in South Beach.

The Heat got dumped 133-124 in Orlando on Wednesday, but they hold the fourth-best cover record in the NBA playing the second half of a back-to-back, going 7-3-0 ATS.

It helps that they have a Top-3 scoring offense, averaging 119.8 points per game.

The Heat are also dominant against teams below .500, going 15-4 – that’s tied for the fewest losses in the East, and second-fewest losses in the NBA in that category.

After a nice four-game winning streak, the Bulls have crashed down to earth, losing at home to the Lakers before getting toppled by the lowly Pacers 113-110.

They’re not exactly a successful turnaround team, either, going just 2-5-0 ATS on the second night of back-to-back sets, with only SacTo, OKC, and Brooklyn beneath them.

While these Bulls can also score, tied for seventh in the NBA at 117.7 points per game, this is also a Bottom-5 scoring defense, getting eaten up for 119.8 PPG.

Miami torched them for 143 points the last time they met – which, wildly, only matches the second-most points they’ve allowed in a game this season.

I like the Heat’s offense to carry them to a cover and a win tonight.

Heat vs Bulls same-game parlay

Norman Powell had 22 points against Orlando, snapping a three-game sub-20-point slide, but he hasn’t cracked 23 in seven straight games.

Josh Giddey’s assist line is 7.5, but he’s only topped that number once in the last five games. However, he’s been dealing against Miami, picking up at least eight dimes in three straight games, making this bet definitely worth the sprinkle.

Heat vs Bulls SGP

• Heat -2
• Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Flickering Flames

I get Bam Adebayo is on a rebounding binge, as he pulled down 12 against the Magic and has at least 12 in five of the last seven games. But it’s a different story against the Bulls, who have limited Bam to 10 or fewer in eight of their last 10 matchups.
 
And Jaime Jaquez Jr. has hit 14 points or more in a game just once in his last six, and if his recent minutes stay the same, so should his scoring. Jaquez has played 28 minutes or less seven times in his last 10. Of those games, he has scored 14 points or fewer six times.

Heat vs Bulls SGP

• Heat -2
• Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists
• Bam Adebayo Under 10.5 rebounds
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. Under 13.5 points

Heat vs Bulls odds

• Spread: Heat -1.5 (-110) | Bulls 1.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Heat -120 | Bulls +100
• Over/Under: Over 240.5 (-110) | Under 240.5 (-110)

Heat vs Bulls betting trend to know

Miami has won seven of its last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents with a losing record. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bulls.

How to watch Heat vs Bulls

Heat vs Bulls latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here