Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction, Pick and Odds for Friday's NBA Play-In Game
The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat meet in the final NBA East Play-In game tonight. Which players will step up and help their team advance? Matt McCuen breaks it down.
Matt McCuen - April 14, 2023, 9:52 AM EDT
5 minMiami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction, Pick and Odds for Friday's NBA Play-In Game
The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat will duel things out from the sunshine state on Friday night with a playoff berth on the line. Let's get into my prediction, pick, and odds for this East NBA Play-In game.
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls Prediction
Chicago looked like their season was dead in the middle of the third quarter on Wednesday night when they trailed the Toronto Raptors by eighteen points. Chicago pulled off a massive comeback led by Zach LaVine and the daughter of DeMar DeRozan, who distracted the Raptor's free throw shooting so well that they ended the game 18-36.
Chicago is hopeful of playing with some momentum tonight after that come-from-behind win, but they know that this will be no easy task facing this experienced Miami Heat team. The Heat could not have played much worse in their first play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Miami trailed the entire game and could never get on a big run to take the lead back. Star Jimmy Butler turned in one of his worst performances of the season. Butler shot just 6-19 from the floor, and fellow all-star Bam Adebayo did not help him much as he ended the game with just twelve points. Miami is well aware that if they want to pull off the win tonight, both of their stars will need to shine.
One bright spot for the Heat in the loss was the production of Kyle Lowry, who ended the game with a game-high thirty-three points off the bench. Chicago went 3-0 against the Heat this year, with their most recent win coming on March 18th when they beat Miami 113-99.
I am going to take a prop here that I love. We have started the playoffs 5-0 in the prop category, and we will add to that tonight. I am turning to the services of Heat big man Bam Adebayo as we will be taking his over tonight at 18.5. Bam averaged 20.7 points per game against Chicago this season, and I think that he matches up well with this Bulls defense who lacks rim protection.
Chicago will turn their focus to Jimmy Butler, which should open things up for Bam. After a lackluster performance, I expect Bam to get buckets tonight and get us to 6-0 on props this postseason.
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls Pick
Pick: Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points (-125) Bet $100 to collect $180 DraftKings has the best odds; click here to bet
Heat vs. Bulls Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, April 14, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
NBA Odds
