The Chicago Bulls Tandem of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine Enter Red Hot Against the Miami Heat

LaVine and DeRozan are performing at All-Star levels despite the underwhelming season.

The Chicago Bulls play the Miami Heat tonight in their final matchup this season. The Bulls beat Miami in their first two meetings, and the third time won’t be any easier.

The Heat have to prepare for the star duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, who are facing Miami after combining for 88 points in the double-overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night. This performance wasn’t a mirage, either. DeRozan and LaVine are No. 13 and No. 16 respectively in scoring this season. LaVine is averaging 34.1 points this month, while DeRozan is averaging 36.3 the past three games.

The Heat are trying to climb the Eastern Conference standings to get out of the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, Chicago is fighting for the final spot as a play-in team, ranking half a game ahead of the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.

The Heat are No. 2 this season in scoring defense, so they need to continue their defensive pressure on LaVine and DeRozan. On the offensive end, Miami is making strides despite still being last in scoring. They are averaging 113 points since the All-Star break and will enter Chicago after their highest-scoring performance of the year against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra talked about the offensive improvement after the Heat’s win against Memphis.

“It was way more intentional,” Spoelstra said. “Way more to our strength zones, being consistent to our shot profile. Getting our paint attacks, getting to the free throw line, getting more rim attempts. A lot more assertiveness. The ball’s getting where it needs to go more often, and then those extra passes for the 3-point shooting.”

Miami is 5-1 when shooting at least 40 percent from the field. They will need to continue this if they want to defeat Chicago Saturday night.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.