The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls meet Wednesday night for a game with major standings implications.
Both teams are 36-43 heading into the matchup, and the winner will take pole position to host their first game of next week’s play-in tournament.
The Bulls, having beaten the Heat in the first two matchups this season, have clinched the playoff tie-breaker. So the Heat would need to finish at least one game ahead of the Bulls to surpass them in the standings. Winning Wednesday would be a critical step in doing so. Lose, and that becomes a lot tougher.
Here’s what to know for Wednesday night’s tilt.
How to watch Heat at Bulls
Time: 8 pm ET
Location: United Center, Chicago
TV: FanDuel Sports Network
Stream: NBA League Pass, Fubo
Notable injuries
Bam Adebayo is available after missing Monday’s game with lower back spasms. So are Alec Burks, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Haywood Highsmith as all are also dealing with various lingering ailments.
Nikola Jovic (hand), Kevin Love (personal reasons) and Dru Smith (Achilles) are out. Isaiah Stevens (foot) and Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) are questionable.
The Bulls will be without Lonzo Ball, Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu. Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter and Jalen Smith are questionable. Nikola Vucevic is probable.
Quick scout
The Bulls have been playing well lately. They won seven of their previous nine before resting several key players in Tuesday’s loss to the Cavaliers. During that stretch, they are 11th in ORTG (one spot behind the 10th-ranked Heat in that same span) and 16th in DRTG (Miami is third).
Key matchups
Coby White/Josh Giddey vs Pelle Larsson: White is on a heater. He’s averaging 29 points on 57% shooting over his past nine games. Like Herro, he’s worked on reducing his mid-range attempts and prioritizing 3s and getting to the basket. He’s averaging 8 free-throw attempts per game during this stretch. Giddey is averaging a triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) over his last eight games and gave the Heat fits the last time these teams played. If Wiggins can’t go, Larsson is likely to get one of these assignments.
Nikola Vucevic vs Kel’el Ware: Vucevic started hot from 3-point range, then slumped after the trade deadline, and now he’s back to shooting 47% from deep. Ware and Bam Adebayo will have to contest him beyond the arc, which could open things up in the paint for White and Co.
Betting
The Heat are 1.5-point favorites on the road.