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The Chicago Bulls (40-43) meet the Miami Heat (46-37) in an NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Game. Tip-off at Kaseya Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bulls vs. Heat odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The winner will earn the 8th seed in the East and will face top-seeded Boston in a best-of-7 1st-round series, while the loser will head home for the offseason.
Season series: Tied 2-2
These teams not only split their 4-game regular-season series, but Chicago and Miami each won one on the other’s home court. However, the Bulls hold a 3-1 against-the-spread (ATS) edge in the 4 games. Plus, Chicago has a healthy 6-2 ATS mark in the previous 8 head-to-head meetings, going 3-1 ATS last season, too.
The Over has cashed in each of the past 3 meetings in the series, including both battles in South Florida.
The big news for Miami is on the injury front, as leading scorer F Jimmy Butler (knee) is out indefinitely. Butler was injured in Wednesday’s 105-104 play-in game loss at Philadelphia. He played the final 3 quarters after suffering a knee injury and finished with 19 points. After an MRI Thursday, it was determined he has an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee and he is expected to miss several weeks.
Chicago won 131-116 in its play-in game vs. the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday, cashing as a 3-point favorite as the Over (223) easily connected. The Over has hit in 5 straight games for the Bulls.
Bulls at Heat odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:31 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bulls +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Heat -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Bulls +2.5 (-115) | Heat -2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 205.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Bulls at Heat key injuries
Bulls
- G Alex Caruso (ankle) questionable
- G Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) questionable
- C Andre Drummond (ankle) questionable
Heat
- F Jimmy Butler (knee) out
- G Terry Rozier (neck) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Bulls at Heat picks and predictions
Prediction
Bulls 107, Heat 105
Moneyline
The BULLS (+105) are worth a look as short underdogs on the road. First off, Chicago has already won in Miami this season, and the Heat are in a world of hurt after losing Jimmy Buckets to the knee injury.
Chicago looked awfully good taking care of Atlanta at home in the play-in game Wednesday, and the Bulls have won 3 of the past 4 outings.
Against the spread
There isn’t a ton of reason to back the Bulls +2.5 (-115) catching the points, unless you’re absolutely adamant that the Heat will win, but only by 2 points.
Chicago enters on a 4-0 ATS streak, and it has covered 6 of the past 8 meetings against Miami.
PASS.
Over/Under
OVER 205.5 (-110) is a strong play, even if Miami is missing Butler, who tied with G Tyler Herro as the team’s leading scorer at 20.8 points per game.
Miami still has plenty of players like Herro, C Bam Adebayo (19.3 PPG, 10.4 RPB) and F Duncan Robinson (12.9 PPG) to get the job done offensively. The Heat cashed the Over (208.5) against the 76ers Wednesday but just barely — by a hook (a half point). The Over has hit in 3 straight, and 11 of the past 12 games for the Heat since March 29.
For Chicago, the Over (223) was never in question Wednesday against Atlanta, and the total has gone high in 5 straight outings. The Bulls are good for 117 or more points in each game, and 127 or more points in 3 of the past 4, while conceding 116 or more points across 4 of the past 5 contests.
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