The final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs is on the line when the Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. Miami had the best record in the East last year before advancing to the conference finals, but it is in danger of missing the 2023 NBA Playoffs altogether this year. Chicago advanced to this game with a 109-105 win over Toronto on Wednesday, rallying from a 19-point deficit.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET from Kaseya Center in Miami. The Heat are averaging 109.5 points per game this season, 30th-best in the league, while the Bulls average 113.1, 22nd-best. Miami is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Bulls vs. Heat odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 209. Before making any Heat vs. Bulls picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer simulation 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 four-plus seasons. The model enters the 2023 NBA Play-in Tournament a stunning 71-36 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $3,000. 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: Heat -4.5
- Bulls vs. Heat over/under: 209 points
- Bulls vs. Heat money line: Bulls +170, Heat -205
- CHI: The Bulls are 4-0 against the spread in their last four Friday games
- MIA: The Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games against a team with a losing road record
- Bulls vs. Heat picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Heat can cover
Guard Tyler Herro scored 26 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss to Atlanta. In 67 games this season, all starts, Herro is averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He faced Chicago three times on the year, scoring an average of 19 points, grabbing 5.3 rebounds, dishing out 3.3 assists and making 1.3 steals. Herro has reached double-digit scoring 60 times this season, reaching 20 or more points 35 times, 30 or more points seven times and 40-plus points once. He has one triple-double and six double-doubles.
Point guard Kyle Lowry, who came off the bench against the Hawks, led the Heat with 33 points in the loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. Lowry also had five assists and four rebounds. In 55 games during the regular season, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and one steal. Lowry posted one triple-double and two double-doubles on the season.
Why the Bulls can cover
Chicago has already beat Miami three times this season, outscoring the Heat by an average of 10.7 points in those three victories. DeMar DeRozan averaged 28.3 points against Miami during the regular season, and he had 23 points against Toronto to help his team rally from a 19-point deficit earlier this week. Zach LaVine had one of his biggest games of the season, pouring in 39 points to lead all scorers in the 109-105 final.
Miami already missed out on one chance to make the playoffs when it lost to Atlanta by double digits on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler missed the final two games of the regular season and is dealing with a personal issue, but he is expected to play on Friday. The Bulls have won nine of their last 11 road games, while Miami has only covered the spread three times in its last nine games.
How to make Heat vs. Bulls picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 221 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Bulls vs. Heat? And which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
