Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat match preview

NBA BASKETBALL: 12BET odds Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat 3/15 9:30AM GMT+8



As the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat seem on course for a showdown in the conference finals for a second straight year.That could make for playoff intensity in the regular season.The Heat will look to win their sixth straight over the Bulls, who hope to have Luol Deng back Wednesday night at the United Center.Miami defeated Chicago in five games in last season's conference finals, but the last two of the Heat's wins in that series went down to the wire - one went to overtime. The last four regular-season meetings between these teams have been decided by a total of 12 points.Miami won the only previous game against Chicago this season, 97-93 at home Jan. 29 behind 35 points from LeBron James.Derrick Rose finished with 34 for the Bulls, but missed a pair of free throws and a potential game-tying basket in the final 23 seconds.



Chicago won both games Deng missed, including a 104-99 home victory over New York on Monday. Rose finished with 32 points, six rebounds and seven assists but also got hit with a $25,000 league fine for criticizing the officiating after the game.Rose did not practice Tuesday, but Thibodeau said that was to give the reigning league MVP time to recover from the contact he absorbed against the Knicks.While Miami hopes to extend its recent dominance of the Bulls, it's also trying to snap a three-game road losing streak.After winning three in a row at home, the Heat failed to protect a 14-point halftime lead at Orlando on Tuesday and fell 104-98 in overtime. Dwyane Wade scored 28 points and Bosh added 23, but James was held to 19 - his fewest points in eight games - and scored just two points after the third quarter.