The Miami Heat will be hosting the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Arena in Miami tonight. It's the first of four meetings this season between the two teams, and the first of two they will play in Miami. The Heat are 8-2 at home, while Chicago has an 8-3 road record. For Miami, this is the second game of a three game homestand. The Heat beat the New York Knicks, 99-89 on Thursday and go on to face the New Orleans Hornets tomorrow. For the Bulls, this is the first game of a NINE game roadtrip. They play the Washington Wizards tomorrow night, and go on to face the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks, the New Jersey Nets, the New Orleans Hornets, the Charlotte Bobcats and the Boston Celtics before returning home on Valentine's Day.

This is the first time the two teams have met since last seasons Eastern Conference Championship. Miami won, four games to one as LeBron James led the Heat by averaging 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Chris Bosh added 23.2 points with 7.6 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade scored 18.8 with 6.4 rebounds. Chicago was paced by Jalen Rose and his 23.4 points and 6.6 assists per game. Luol Deng added 17.2 with seven rebounds, Carlos Boozer scored 14.4 with 10.2 rebounds, and Joakim Noah pitched in six points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

NBA Playoffs 2011: Miami Heat Vs Chicago Bulls Game 5 Highlights (4-1) Miami Won The Series (via NBAHiighlights)

"You really just have to get comfortable playing with each other," he said, "to understand your strengths of each player, to be able to each be aggressive and yet play off each other and make each other better and also get the other guys involved. For us, that took some time last year, where we feel much more comfortable this season."

The Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago on Friday, 107-100. Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 34, Carlos Boozer scored 20 with 13 boards, and Joakim Noah scored 15 with 16 rebounds. Brandon Jennings scored 25 for the Bucks, and Drew Gooden added 23 with 15 rebound and six assists. After scoring 16 in the first quarter, Rose limited Jennings to nine points through the rest of the game.

"I was going to attack no matter what," Rose said. "I was talking to Thibs before in the shootaround. He was just telling me to attack. He didn't know that Rip wasn't going to play. He was just telling me to go out there and play the way I normally play."

NBA CIRCLE - Milwaukee Bucks Vs Chicago Bulls Highlights Jan 27, 2012 Game Recap (via NBACIRCLE)

Game Time: 3:30 EST

Season Series: 0-0

All-Time Series: 37-47

Last Five:

Miami: W- L - W - W - W

New York: W - W - W - L - W

Standings:

Miami Heat: 14-5, first in the Southeast Division, second in the Eastern Conference, tied with for third in the NBA, on pace for 49-17.

Chicago Bulls: 17-4, first in the Central Division, first in the Eastern Conference, second in the NBA, on pace for 53-13.

Starting Lineups:

Miami Heat:

PG - Mario Chalmers

SG - Dwyane Wade

SF - LeBron James

PF - Chris Bosh

C - Joel Anthony

Udonis Haslem has a cracked rib, but is expected to play through it.

Chicago Bulls:

PG - Derrick Rose

SG - Kyle Korver

SF - Ronnie Brewer

PF - Carlos Boozer

C - Joakim Noah

Luol Deng recently tore a ligament in his wrist, and is not expected to appear in today's game.

"It's a day-by-day thing. I would say right now probably a week away maybe more," Deng said Friday. "It's hard to tell. It's definitely a bad injury, but I really believe I will be back soon and doing everything."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Common Thread:

Miami's backup center Eddy Curry played his first 289 games over four NBA seasons with the Bulls, averaging 12 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes per game.

Team Milestones:

Miami:

One more free throw will move LeBron James past Willie Burton into 12th, with 637.

44 minutes for Mario Chalmers will move him past Jamal Mashburn into 16th, with 6,602. Three more 3-pointers will put him at 310, passing Dwyane Wade into sixth. 12 more assists will move him past Jason Williams into 11th, with 917

James Jones needs four more 3-pointers to pass James Posey into 13th, with 215.

One more block will put Udonis Haslem in 11th with 185, passing Brian Grant.

Four more steals will give franchise record holder Dwyane Wade 1,000 for his career.

Chicago:

12 more free throws for Derrick Rose will move him into 19th, passing Dave Corzine with 1,021. With 11 more assists, he will move past B.J. Armstrong into 11th, with 1,742.

With one more block, Taj Gibson will pass Ben Wallace into 17th, with 237.

Team Leaders: (minimum half of team games played)

PPG:

MIAMI:

LeBron James, 29.2

Chris Bosh, 21.2

Dwyane Wade, 20.4

RPG:

Udonis Haslem, 8.6

LeBron James, 8.0

Chris Bosh, 7.8

APG:

LeBron James, 7.1

Dwyane Wade, 5.3

Mario Chalmers, 4.2

SPG:

Dwyane Wade, 2.3

LeBron James,1.9

Mario Chalmers, 1.4

BPG:

Dwyane Wade, 1.7

Joel Anthony ,1.0

Chris Bosh, 0.9

CHICAGO:

PPG:

Derrick Rose, 21.9

Luol Deng, 15.9

Carlos Boozer, 15.2

RPG:

Joakim Noah, 9.1

Carlos Boozer, 8.6

Luol Deng, 7.5

APG:

Derrick Rose, 7.9

C.J. Watson, 3.9

Luol Deng, 2.6

SPG:

Luol Deng, 1.2

C.J. Watson, Carlos Boozer, 1.1

BPG:

Taj Gibson, 1.4

Omer Asik, 1.3

Joakim Noah, 1.2