Heat And Bulls Battle For Playoff Position In Chicago

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls squared off in a highly anticipated Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. With both teams looking to bounce back from tough losses the night before, this rescheduled contest—originally set for January 8 before winter weather intervened—carried extra weight in the playoff race. The Heat entered with a 25-23 record, clinging to the eighth seed, while the Bulls, at 23-24, were holding onto the tenth and final play-in spot, just ahead of the Charlotte Hornets.

Chicago’s home-court advantage has been a bright spot this season, with the Bulls boasting a 15-10 record at the United Center. Meanwhile, Miami has struggled on the road, going just 10-15 away from South Beach. Both teams arrived in Chicago after dropping their most recent games: the Heat fell 133-124 at home to the Orlando Magic despite a 23-point spark off the bench from Simone Fontecchio, while the Bulls let a late lead slip in a 113-110 defeat to the Indiana Pacers, even with Nikola Vucevic pouring in 25 points.

It’s not just the standings that made this clash significant. The Heat and Bulls are scheduled to meet four times this regular season, and Miami had already flexed its muscle in the first encounter, rolling to a 143-107 win at the United Center back in November. That lopsided result surely lingered in the minds of both squads as they took the floor for their second meeting.

For Miami, Norman Powell has emerged as the offensive engine, averaging 23 points per game to lead the team. In their most recent outing, Powell contributed 22 points, while Bam Adebayo nearly posted a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Fontecchio’s hot shooting—6-of-9 from deep for his 23 points—highlighted the Heat’s bench depth, but it wasn’t enough to stave off Orlando’s high-powered attack.

Chicago, meanwhile, has relied heavily on the playmaking of Josh Giddey, who’s been averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists when healthy. Unfortunately, Giddey has missed nearly a quarter of the Bulls’ games this season, a fact that’s hurt Chicago’s consistency. Coby White has picked up the slack, scoring at least 22 points in five of his last six games, and continues to be a key contributor in the backcourt. The Bulls’ resilience was on display in their last game, as they built a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and led by 12 with under six minutes to play, only to see the Pacers storm back for the win.

Injury concerns loomed over both teams heading into Thursday’s tipoff. The Heat listed Davion Mitchell (shoulder) as questionable and Tyler Herro (ribs) as doubtful, while the Bulls were without Zach Collins (toe) and Tre Jones (hamstring), and had Josh Giddey (hamstring) listed as questionable. The latest reports just before game time confirmed that Miami would also be missing Mitchell, while Norman Powell (back) and Kel’el Ware (hamstring) were both probable. On the Bulls’ side, Jalen Smith (concussion) was probable, but Noa Essengue (shoulder) was out for the season.

With both teams shorthanded, the expected starting lineups featured Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo for Miami, facing off against Josh Giddey, Coby White, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic for Chicago. The matchup promised fireworks, with both squads averaging nearly 120 points per game on offense and neither known for stifling defense. Miami was putting up 119.8 points per contest while allowing 118.4, and Chicago was scoring 117.7 but surrendering 119.8 on average.

Bookmakers anticipated a high-scoring affair, setting the total at 238.5 points and making Miami a slim 1.5-point favorite on the road. Moneyline odds hovered around Miami -130 and Chicago +110, reflecting just how closely matched these teams were on paper. Notably, the line had shifted from an opening of Bulls -1.5, a nod to Miami’s recent form and perhaps the uncertainty surrounding Chicago’s injury list.

Statistical trends offered insight into possible outcomes. The Bulls were 24-23 against the spread this season, while the Heat were 27-21. The OVER had cashed in 21 of the Bulls’ 47 games and 25 of the Heat’s 48, suggesting that fans tuning in on FanDuel Sports Network Sun, Chicago Sports Network Plus, or streaming via Fubo could expect plenty of offense. Still, the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, recommended taking the UNDER on the total, citing that it had hit in three of the last four Chicago games and three of the last six head-to-head meetings.

Projections from both SportsLine and Rotoworld pointed to balanced scoring on each side, with Miami’s Norman Powell forecasted for 21.8 points and Chicago’s Coby White for 17.9. Both models anticipated at least six players from each roster scoring in double figures, a testament to the depth and versatility of both lineups. Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Heat had quietly become a stat-sheet stuffer, notching at least four assists and five rebounds in five of his last seven games.

Beyond the numbers, these teams’ trajectories added intrigue. Miami, under the stewardship of Pat Riley, was rumored to be angling for a blockbuster move to land a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Chicago’s front office faced pressure to keep the Bulls in the playoff hunt amid injuries and roster turnover. The Bulls’ all-time series lead over the Heat stood at 68-65 before Thursday’s tip, but Miami’s dominant win earlier in the season hinted at a possible changing of the guard.

As tipoff approached, fans and pundits alike wondered which team would seize the moment. Would the Heat’s road woes continue, or could Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo deliver another statement win? Could the Bulls, led by the resurgent Coby White and the reliable Nikola Vucevic, protect their home floor and solidify their play-in position? With the playoffs still weeks away, every possession mattered, and every point could be the difference between postseason glory and an early vacation.

With both squads eager to rebound from recent setbacks and the playoff race tightening, Thursday’s showdown in Chicago offered all the drama, intensity, and unpredictability that NBA fans crave. As the action unfolded at the United Center, one thing was clear: neither the Heat nor the Bulls were backing down in their quest for a crucial midseason victory.