- What: NBA Play-In Game
- When: April 16, 2025
- Who: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: United Center (Chicago, IL)
The Miami Heat, currently in 10th place with a record of 37-45, will face the ninth-place Chicago Bulls (39-43) in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday.
The victor will advance to compete against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, while the losing team will see its season end. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 p.m. PST from the United Center.
In their regular-season matchups, Chicago swept the series 3-0. Miami has struggled recently, losing two of its last three games, including a narrow 119-118 defeat to the Washington Wizards on a buzzer-beater last Sunday.
They failed to cover as an 8.5-point home favorite. Despite the loss, guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. shone with a career-high 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists as the Heat rested their starters in preparation for the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Bulls are entering the game with momentum, having won three consecutive games and six out of their last seven.
This was capped off by a 122-102 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, making them an 8-point road favorite. Guard Kevin Huerter led the team with 18 points.
The Bulls previously defeated the Heat twice at home (133-124 on February 4 and 119-111 on April 9) and once in Miami (114-109 on March 8).
As they head into their third consecutive Play-In appearance, Chicago has proven to be a more balanced team, winning six of their last seven games and covering the spread in four of their last five.
While they may not have the star-studded lineup traditionally associated with deep playoff runs, they can advance beyond this round on Wednesday.
Best Bet: Bulls -1.5 Points at -115 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
