The Miami Heat will look to secure the eighth and final playoff spot when they battle the Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament game on Friday in Miami. The Heat (46-36), who squandered a double-digit lead in Wednesday's 105-104 game at Philadelphia, are looking to reach the postseason for the fifth consecutive season. The Bulls (39-43), who defeated Atlanta 131-116 in Wednesday's matchup, are looking to reach the first round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2021-2022, when they lost in five games to the Bucks. The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler (knee) on Friday.
Tipoff from the Kaseya Center in Miami is set for 7 p.m. ET. Miami is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Bulls vs. Heat odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 205.5. Before making any Heat vs. Bulls picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 88-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bulls vs. Heat and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Heat vs. Bulls:
- Bulls vs. Heat spread: Miami -2.5
- Bulls vs. Heat over/under: 205.5 points
- Bulls vs. Heat money line: Chicago +108, Miami -128
- CHI: The Bulls had a minus-1.4 point differential during the regular season
- MIA: The Heat were 32-20 against Eastern Conference foes in 2023-24
- Bulls vs. Heat picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Heat can cover
Point guard Tyler Herro has been on a tear of late. In Wednesday's loss at Philadelphia, he scored 25 points, while adding nine assists and two rebounds. It was the 26th consecutive double-figure scoring game in a row for the fifth-year veteran. In nine career games against the Bulls, Herro is averaging 17 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 33 minutes. In 42 games this season, including 40 starts, he is averaging 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Also helping power the Heat is center Bam Adebayo. Adebayo recorded a double-double in Wednesday's loss at Philadelphia, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He has reached double-digit scoring in 18 of his last 19 games, including 12 double-doubles during that span. For the season, he's averaging 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Bulls can cover
Small forward DeMar DeRozan powers Chicago's offense. In 79 games, all starts, DeRozan has been dominant, averaging 24 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. In his last four regular-season games, he scored no fewer than 30 points, including a 39-point performance in a 127-105 win at Detroit on April 11. In four games against the Heat this season, he is averaging 22 points, four rebounds, 4.5 assists and one block.
Point guard Coby White has been effective of late, scoring a career-high 42 points in Wednesday's win over the Hawks. In Sunday's regular-season finale at New York, he scored 26 points, while dishing out four assists in a 120-119 overtime loss. He had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 129-127 win at Washington on April 12. In 79 games, including 78 starts, he is averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 36.5 minutes.See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Heat vs. Bulls picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Bulls vs. Heat, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that's 88-58 on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
