Chicago Bulls (39-43) vs Miami Heat (37-45)
Game Info: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 7:30 pm (United Center)
Betting Odds: Chicago Bulls -1 -- Over/Under: 219 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ESPN
The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls are set to face off in a high-stakes NBA Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago. This matchup determines which team will advance to play for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot, with the winner moving on to face the loser of the Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks game.
The Bulls, holding the ninth seed with a 39–43 record, have the advantage of playing at home and have won all three regular-season meetings against the Heat this season. Chicago's recent performance has been strong, winning 10 of their last 13 games. Key players include Coby White, averaging 20.4 points per game, and Nikola Vucevic, contributing 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Josh Giddey, who has been instrumental in the Bulls' late-season surge, is listed as day-to-day with a wrist injury but is expected to play.
The Heat, entering as the tenth seed with a 37–45 record, are navigating their first postseason without Jimmy Butler since 2019. Tyler Herro leads the team with 23.9 points and 5.5 assists per game, while Bam Adebayo has stepped up significantly, averaging 21.2 points over his last 35 games. In their three regular-season losses to the Bulls, Adebayo averaged 21 points, highlighting his importance in this matchup.
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Coby White Over 22.5 Points
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White is averaging a career-high 20.4 points per game over 74 games in the 2024–25 NBA season. He also contributes 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game, with shooting percentages of 45.3% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. Coby White finished the season with 3 quiet games scoring the ball, but with what’s on the line, I expect White to be in his best form. Throughout March and the beginning of April, we saw White have multiple 30+ point games. He’s fully capable of getting over this number.
Bam Adebayo Over 9.5 Rebounds
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game over 78 games in the 2024–25 NBA season, ranking 12th in the league. He also contributes 18.1 points and 4.3 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 48.5%. We’ve seen Adebayo have a 20 rebound game earlier this season. He has a favorable matchup in this one going against the Bulls who are giving up 54.5 rebounds per game to opposing teams which is the 2nd most in the league.
Tyler Herro Over 5.5 Assists
Tyler Herro is averaging 5.5 assists per game. This marks a career-high for Herro and places him 29th in the league for assists per game. In addition to his playmaking, he contributes 23.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, with shooting splits of 47.2% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range, and 87.8% from the free-throw line. Herro's improved distribution has been pivotal for the Heat, especially following roster changes earlier in the season. The Heat will need to have the ball in Herro’s hands if they want to win this game. The Bulls are giving up 28.9 assists per game to opposing teams, which is the 3rd most in the league. I expect Herro to have a nice night facilitating the ball.
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AUTHOR: Brad Francis
