**Bulls at Heat**



-- Miami withstood everything Chicago had to bring in Game 1 and still managed to capture a 111-106 victory in the opener of the first round series. The Heat led by 12 points (63-51) at the break, but trailed 91-87 before Dwyane Wade took over the game.



-- Wade scored six straight points and finished with 30 points, including 14 in the fourth before leaving with cramps in his calf. Shaquille O’Neal dominated the Bulls’ frontcourt with 27 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. His 37 minutes played since a Mar. 22 loss to Detroit when he ran for 43 minutes.



-- Also, the Heat were without backup center Alonzo Mourning (calf) prior to the start of this game, plus power forward Udonis Haslem was ejected in the second quarter for tossing his mouthpiece at the referee. Stay posted on his status for Game 2.



-- Chicago shot a blistering 46 percent from the field, including an eye opening 13-of-26 (50%) from 3-point land. Ben Gordon led the charge with 35 points on 12-of-23 (52%) shooting.



-- Miami finished the game by shooting 48 percent from the field and an eye opening 82 percent (32-of-29) from the free throw line. Wade was 14-of-16, while Shaq hit 5-of-8 shots.



-- After Saturday’s loss, the Bulls have dropped to 1-3 straight up and 4-0 ATS versus the Heat this year.



-- Chicago is just 16-21 SU and 14-23 ATS when playing with one day rest, while Miami is 31-17 SU and 21-27 ATS.



-- The Bulls stand at 43-40 ATS on the year after the cover in Game 1. In the 43 covers for the Bulls, the ‘over’ has cashed in 28 times.



-- Miami has been solid at home, going 33-10 SU, but are only 17-25 against the point-spread.



-- Following this tip, both teams will head to Chicago for Game 3 on Thursday from United Center.



-- Oddsmakers opened the Heat as seven-point home favorites for Game 2, while the ‘over’ has jumped up to 197.



-- TNT offers national coverage of this contest at 8:00 p.m. EST.



**Nuggets at Clippers**



-- Los Angeles hasn’t played in a playoff game in over nine years and it showed in Saturday’s Game 1 battle against Denver. The Clippers almost blew a double-digit lead, but held on for an 89-87 victory over the Nuggets.



-- Denver’s Carmelo Anthony had two opportunities to tie or take the lead but failed on both attempts with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Anthony finished with 25 points, but struggled on 9-of-26 shooting, including eight misses in the fourth.



-- The Clippers’ Sam Cassell is one of the few players on his squad with playoff experience and the only one with a championship ring. His experience stood out, as Sam dropped in 19 points and seven assists with no turnovers.



-- Denver saved some face for gamblers by covering as a five-point road underdog in Game 1 while total players saw the combined 176 points go ‘under’ the closing total of 195.



-- To the say the game slowed down is an understatement after 99 points were posted by both teams in the first 24 minutes before managing just 77 in the second half. Halftime betters saw the Clips and ‘over’ cash in the first half, but the Nuggets cashed along with the ‘under’ in the second half.



-- Saturday’s loss was the fifth straight for the Nuggets. The team is 1-4 ATS during this run, while the ‘under’ has cashed in all five losses.



-- L.A. shot 44 percent from the field, including 6-of-12 (50%) from downtown. Mike Dunleavy’s team also benefited with 30 free throw attempts, cashing 23 from the stripe.



-- If your head coach George Karl, you have to look at the bright side, considering Denver shot just 39 percent from the field and only lost by two points.



-- The biggest weakness for the Nuggets is their outside shooting, ranked dead last in the league at 33 percent. Game 1 wasn’t much better, with the club going 1-of-6 (17%) from 3-point land.



-- Both clubs own solid records when playing on one day rest. Denver is 26-21 both SU and ATS, while Los Angeles is 26-19 SU and 20-23 ATS.



-- The side and total have both been lowered by oddsmakers for Game 2, with Los Angeles laying 3 ½-points and the ‘over/under’ dropping to 192.



-- After this contest, Denver will host Los Angeles in Game 3 from Pepsi Center on Thursday.



-- Tip off for Monday’s battle is set to tip at 10:30 p.m. EST, with TNT offering coverage.