Heat Demolishes Bulls at Home and Get Ready for Game 3 at United Center

Before Game 1, fans and specially bettors thought the Miami Heat was unbeatable at its home arena. Miami lost just four games at the AmericanAirlines Arena in the entire regular season, and entered the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Chicago having won 41 of their last 43 games. Instead, Game 1 turned to be nothing but a huge disappointment for Heat supporters. Odds on NBA favored Miami to win the game by a lose margin, but despite its solid record at home, things didn’t go as everyone thought on Monday night, and the Heat ended up falling 93-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls in the first game of the series.

The lack of offensive consistency during Monday night’s loss put the Heat in an embarrassing position for the first time this season; but just two days later, the team washed its face with a demolishing victory on Game 2, beating the Bulls 115-78, the biggest postseason win in franchise history.

Before the end of the 2nd quarter, the Bulls were down by 4-points (42-38); but once the Heat deciphered Chicago’s game, the team mounted a 62-20 run that lasted all the way to 8:28 in the 4th quarter.

At some point of the second half, the Heat led by as many as 46 points. But things were about to get worse for Chicago. Both Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were ejected in the fourth quarter. Noah got tossed for berating a ref while he was sitting on the bench, and Gibson followed Noah while Ray Allen was shooting the technical free throw for Noah's ejection. By the end of the game, the Bulls were called for six player technicals, the most by any squad in a playoff game since the Celtics had that many against the Pacers in 2005.

In addition to the 37-point win, Miami also set other records including playoff highs in margin of victory (37), points, field goal percentage (60 percent), 3-point percentage (50), second-half points (60), bench points (55), points in the paint (56), fast-break points (20) and points off turnovers (28).
The Heat-Bulls series now head back to Chicago tied 1-1. Game 3 is Friday in Chicago, where Miami will have to win at least one of the two coming games at United Center if they want to keep contending for back-to-back titles.

Game Odds:
Miami Heat: -7-110, ML -300
Chicago Bulls: +7-110, ML 250
Game Total: 187.5, o/u-110 

Odds are provided by Sports Betting Online. For additional lines and sportsbook betting odds, click here.