Bulls vs Heat Picks, Odds & Spread for NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Game
- The Miami Heat are 5.5-point home favorites over the Chicago Bulls in their NBA Eastern Conference play-in game on Friday, April 14
- Chicago is 8-3 ATS in the team’s last 11 visits to Miami
- Below, see the Bulls vs Heat predictions, odds, and injury reports for the 2023 NBA play-in game
The Chicago Bulls (41-42, 41-39-3 ATS) opened the NBA season on the road, putting a 116-108 whipping on the Miami Heat (44-39, 30-50-3 ATS). They could turn off the Heat for the rest of the season by doing likewise in their Eastern Conference play-in game.
Recent history is suggesting that is exactly what might be happening. Chicago is 3-0 straight up and against the spread when facing the Heat this season. That includes a 2-0 slate at Miami.
Oddsmakers, though, are sticking with the home-court advantage. They’re setting the Heat as 5.5-point favorites. Miami is 13-26-2 ATS at home this season, the worst record of any team to qualify for the NBA postseason.
Bulls vs Heat Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | +5.5 (-110) | +180 | O 208.5 (-115) |
| Miami Heat | -5.5 (-110) | -223 | U 208.5 (-105) |
Chicago beat Miami on average by 10.66 points per game over the three victories vs the Heat this season. The Bulls never scored fewer than 113 points in any of the three games.
This game is being broadcast by TNT in the USA and TSN in Canada. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET at the Kaseya Center on Friday, April 14.
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Both of these teams are extreme long shots in the NBA championship odds. Oddsmakers are setting Miami with a betting line with a line of +25000 to be winning the NBA Finals. Chicago is at +40000 in this betting market.
Bulls vs Heat Betting Trends
In the NBA public betting splits, the people are going in completely the opposite direction from the oddsmakers. In spread splits, it’s Chicago getting 81% of handle and 76% of bets. As far as the moneyline goes, it’s splitting 73% of handle and 56% of bets on the side of the Bulls.
Where the total of 208.5 points is concerned, the over is drawing heavy action. It’s pulling 76% of handle and 85% of bets. Only one of three Bulls vs Heat games this season went over. However, Chicago has gone over in eight of the last 11 games. Five of the last six and seven of the past 10 Heat games also hit on the over.
Chicago vs Miami NBA Injury Report
Miami’s Gabe Vincent, who started at point guard as the Heat lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the 7-8 play-in game, could be missing from the NBA starting lineups. He left that game after 24 minutes with back pain and is listed as questionable for this game. Vincent, though, insists he’ll be playing Friday.
Miami PG Kyle Lowry (knee soreness) is also showing up on the injury list as questionable for Friday’s game. Heat small forward Nikola Jovic (back) is out.
As for the Bulls, their only absences aren’t new ones. Both PG Lonzo Ball and SF Justin Lewis are out long term with knee ailments.
Bulls Make History in Win Over Raptors
No matter what happens in this game, the Bulls have already made NBA playoff history. Chicago became the first #10 seed in the NBA playoff bracket to win a play-in game when the Bulls beat #9 Toronto 109-105.
A 39-piece in the comeback W 🥶
Have a night, Zach LaVine.#ATTPlayIn pic.twitter.com/LJ4ePRBnVg
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2023
Rallying from a 18-point deficit, Chicago took advantage of the Raptors missing 18 free throws. Guard Zach LaVine led the charge for the Bulls. He scored 30 of his game-high 39 points in the second half. Forward DeMar DeRozan added 23 points for the Bulls. Center Nikola Vucevic contributed a double-double, netting 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Heat Don’t Spread the Love at Home
Home hasn’t proven at all sweet for the Heat this season. Including their 11-point loss to the Hawks, they’ve covered the spread in just 30.5% of all home games so far this season. That’s the worst of any NBA playoff team. Straight up, though, Miami is 27-15 at home during 2022-23. No team has ever gone 0-2 SU at home in NBA play-in games during a single season.
“Ain’t nobody picked us last year. Who cares? Nobody is picking us this year. Still don’t give a damn.”
– Jimmy Butler
(Via @5ReasonsSports ) pic.twitter.com/RGnwezjyAH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 10, 2023
Should the Heat be concerned about forward Jimmy Butler? Miami’s star was missing from practice on Thursday due to what the team termed personal reasons. Indications are that former Bull Butler will be playing Friday against his old team., Although he scored 21 points in the loss to Atlanta, Butler was just 6-of-19 from the field.
Bulls vs Heat Prediction
The Bulls are playing right now like they’re a team going places. Chicago is 14-9 SU since the all-star break and 5-2 SU over the past seven games.
The Heat are a lowly 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games against the Bulls.
Pick: Chicago Bulls +5.5 (-110)
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An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
