Keys to Chicago Bulls’ home game vs. Miami Heat

The Chicago Bulls (32-37) host the Miami Heat (38-33) tonight. The Bulls are coming off a hard-fought 139-131 home win against the Timberwolves in overtime on Friday. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 49 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, Zach LaVine had 39 points, five assists, and four rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic added 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the victory.

Lonzo Ball is still out with a left knee injury as the Bulls look to win their second straight game. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) is also out.

Miami Heat (38-33) vs. Chicago Bulls (32-37)

Saturday, March 18 – 08:00 PM ET at United Center

Miami Heat

• Points Per Game: 109.1 (30th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 109.6 (2nd of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 28.1 (28th of 30)
• Pace: 96.6 (28th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 112.1 (25th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 112.6 (5th of 30)
• Net Rating: -0.5 (22nd of 30)

Chicago Bulls

• Points Per Game: 113.6 (18th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 112.8 (11th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 29.8 (24th of 30)
• Pace: 99 (17th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 113.5 (23rd of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 112.8 (7th of 30)
• Net Rating: +0.7 (11th of 30)

Contain Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo had 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks across 33 minutes in Wednesday’s 138-119 home win against the Grizzlies, shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Adebayo’s three blocks matched a season-high. The Heat were 0-3 in games where Adebayo had three blocks. The star center is averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and four assists in 35.5 minutes over two games against the Bulls this season. The Bulls must contain Adebayo to win their 33rd game this season.

Treat the Heat’s visit like a Game 7

Last night, DeRozan and LaVine combined for the most points by a duo in Bulls’ franchise history. The bad news is that the Bulls had to play DeRozan for 52 minutes and LaVine for 47 minutes against a Timberwolves team that lost Anthony Edwards to an ankle injury after eight minutes and was already without Karl-Anthony Towns.

“I give our guys credit for fighting through and staying in the game and making plays when we needed to make plays. I’m happy we won. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll always take that,” Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said after the game. “My biggest thing is can we play with the defensive intensity in the first half that we had in the second half?”

The Bulls made a significant effort against the Timberwolves on Friday, particularly DeRozan and LaVine. Can they recover in time to host the Heat? On Saturday, the key for the Bulls is to play with defensive intensity for the entire game.

Noteworthy

• The Bulls won the last meeting, 113-103, on December 20. Vucevic led the Bulls with 29 points.

• Miami beat Chicago three of the last five times.

• The Bulls are 3-7 in the last 10 matchups against the Heat.

• Heat’s projected lineup: Adebayo, Love, Butler, Herro, Vincent

• Bulls’ projected lineup: Vucevic, Caruso, LaVine, DeRozan, Beverley

• Heat’s Injury Report: Nikola Jovic (lower back stress reaction) and Cody Zeller (nose surgery) are out against the Bulls. Kyle Lowry (left knee soreness) is questionable.

• Bulls’ Injury Report: Lonzo Ball is out with a left knee injury. Javonte Green (right knee soreness) will also miss this game.