Bulls host Miami Heat but injuries could make Chicago play-in underdogs

CHICAGO – By virtue of a better overall record than the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls earned home-court advantage for their National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference play-in game on April 16 (April 17, Singapore time).

However, despite winning all three meetings with Miami this season, the ninth-seeded Bulls (39-43) could be considered the underdogs against the 10th-seeded Heat (37-45).

Chicago could hit the United Centre without the services of three of their point guards. Lonzo Ball (wrist) is doubtful to play, Josh Giddey (hand) is probable and Tre Jones has not been cleared to remove his protective boot.

Ball spent weeks sporting a brace on his wrist before he was allowed to return to basketball activities this week. Head coach Billy Donovan noted that the player would need several days to get himself back up to speed.

“If he can get through that week and we’re fortunate enough to play beyond the play-in, that would be the goal,” Donovan said, per the Chicago Tribune.

“Unless there’s something that happens significantly between now and Wednesday, my feeling is he probably would not be available (for Wednesday’s) game. I’m not ruling it out, but that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”

Donovan added the 22-year-old Giddey has been hampered by his injury throughout the season, although it tightened up during the last week. He sat out the last two games, including the season finale against the Philadelphia 76ers.

“It’s just about managing the pain,” Giddey said on April 15.

The Australian has eviscerated the Heat this season, averaging a triple-double with 26.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game while shooting 58.3 per cent from the field and 53.3 per cent from three-point range.

He is averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game on the season, but has been on a tear since the All-Star break. In his past 19 games, he is averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists.

While the Bulls have won three in a row and six of seven, the Heat ended a six-game winning streak by losing four of their final six contests. Jaime Jaquez Jr scored a career-high 41 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists in Miami’s 119-118 setback to the Washington Wizards in the regular-season finale.

Tyler Herro, who boasts career-high averages in points (23.9) and assists (5.5), and Bam Adebayo (18.1 points per game and club-best 9.6 rebounds per game) sat out that game with nothing for the Heat to gain in play-off positioning.

Herro and Adebayo, however, have been consistently available on the court for head coach Erik Spoelstra.

“It has been important. It was also something they both wanted to do,” Spoelstra said of Adebayo and Herro’s availability this season, per the Miami Herald.

“Be available, be there for the team and I think that’s allowed us to be able to handle some of the things that we’ve been able to handle. Even though it hasn’t obviously been exactly how we wanted it to go, it definitely could have looked different.”

Herro averaged 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists in three games against the Bulls this season. Adebayo contributed 21.0 points and 6.7 boards. REUTERS