Josh Giddey

Miami Heat (25-23, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (23-24, 10th in the Eastern Conference)Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. ESTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -1.5; over/under is 242.5BOTTOM LINE: Miami faces Chicago in Eastern Conference action Thursday.The Bulls are 15-16 against conference opponents. Chicago is 13-12 against opponents over .500.The Heat are 12-13 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 28.5 assists per game led by Davion Mitchell averaging 7.2.The Bulls' 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Heat give up. The Heat average 119.8 points per game, equal to what the Bulls give up.The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won the last matchup 143-107 on Nov. 22, with Kel'el Ware scoring 20 points in the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. Coby White is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.Bam Adebayo is averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Heat. Simone Fontecchio is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 6-4, averaging 119.9 points, 43.6 rebounds, 31.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.Heat: 5-5, averaging 120.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.4 points.INJURIES: Bulls: Jalen Smith: out (concussion ), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: out (hamstring), Kevin Huerter: out (back), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring).Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Davion Mitchell: out (shoulder).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

After coming off the bench in his first three games back from a strained hamstring, Giddey is in the starting lineup. His promotion comes at the expense of Jalen Smith, whose playing time will likely decrease. However, since the Bulls are light on frontcourt depth, deep-league managers who were streaming Smith should hold onto him.

Giddey posted 19 points (6-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven assists and six rebounds across 28 minutes off the bench in Monday's 129-118 loss to the Lakers.

Giddey came off the bench for the third straight game on Monday and logged one of his well-rounded performances that we've grown accustomed to. The fifth-year guard led the Bulls in assists and came within one point of being the third Bulls player to tally 20 points on Monday. Nonetheless, his scoring uptick against the Lakers was encouraging, considering the four-point performance he had against the Celtics on Saturday. As Giddey continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury, fantasy managers should expect him to round all the way back into form.

Head coach Billy Donovan said Giddey will be on a minutes restriction of around 24 minutes in Saturday's game against Boston, Cody Westerlund of 670TheScore.com reports.