GAME NIGHT FROM THE UNITED CENTER:
Miami (10-3, 4-3 on the road) at Bulls: (5-10, 3-5 at home)
TV: NBCSC: Neil Funk and Stacey King 7PM
RADIO: 670 The Score: Chuck Swirsky, Bill Wennington, and David Schuster. 6:45 pre.
LEADING SCORERS: Bulls: LaVine: 19 ppg. Miami: Butler:18ppg.
LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: Carter: 10 per. Miami: Adebayo: 10 per.
LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: Satoransky: 4 per. Miami: Butler: 7 per.
PREVIEW: The Bulls played a solid game in their victory over the Pistons as they received a boost from players such as Shaq Harrison and Tomas Satoransky. To beat the red hot Heat, the Bulls will need to replicate that performance tonight. Lauri Markkanen registered his second 20 point game of the season, showing his aggressiveness going to the line 11 times.
Tonight's game will be a great test for the Bulls who look to beat a team over .500 for the first time this season. Three undrafted players are performing at a very high level for Miami in Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson. Nunn, from Simeon High School, is averaging 17 points per contest. Robinson drilled a career-high nine- three-point field goals in their blowout win Wednesday against Cleveland. Duncan Robinson's 21 points in 5:11 of 2nd quarter action were the most by an NBA player in a quarter in that few minutes in at least 20 years. Chris Silva gets after it and just plays hard every second on the floor. Toss in number one pick Tyler Herro from Kentucky, Miami is off to a great start led by Jimmy Butler who leads Miami in scoring and assists.
The Bulls will have to match the defensive intensity that the Heat bring nightly. Otto Porter Jr remains out. Chandler Hutchison is doubtful against the Heat.
24 SECONDS NBA NEWS AND NOTES:
Milwaukee 137, Portland 129: Giannis Antetokounmpo dished out a career-high 15 assists to go with 19 rebounds and 24 points. The Bucks now 12-3. Melo: 29 minutes: 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
New Orleans 124, Phoenix 121: Brandon Ingram scored 15 of his 28 points int he fourth quarter to life the Pelicans to the win.
Orlando's Nikola Vucevic could be sidelined for a month after spraining his right ankle.
From Bobby Marks - ESPN. A note on San Antonio, who has lost 7 in a row, and are now 5-10. The last time the Spurs made a trade during the season was Feb. 2014: Nando De Colo for Austin Daye. Since 2012, San Antonio has only made 8 trades total.
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