Who Will Grab Final Spot in Eastern Conference Playoffs?

The final spot for the Eastern Conference Playoffs is up for grabs when the Chicago Bulls face the Miami Heat on Friday. Read on for our Bulls vs. Heat prediction based on the best NBA odds.

A trip to the Eastern Conference Playoffs and a first-round date with the Milwaukee Bucks is on the line for Friday’s NBA play-in tournament battle between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. The winner will earn the No. 8 seed and head to Milwaukee for Sunday’s Game 1.

The Bulls (41-42) already won an elimination game, rallying back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Toronto Raptors on the road. The Heat (44-39) were handed a 116-105 loss by the Atlanta Hawks at home, but can they bounce back after a few days of rest?

Here is our best Bulls vs. Heat prediction (odds via our best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Bulls vs. Heat prediction

Jimmy Butler Over 1.5 steals (+112 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

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This game is extremely difficult to project. Favorites are 0-4 against the spread in the play-in tournament so far, which includes three outright upsets. Bettors seem eager to back the Bulls (or perhaps they are simply fading the Heat), but this line really hasn’t budged much.

I will bet on Butler again, though we will focus on the defensive end this time around. Butler recorded two steals in the loss to the Hawks, and the Heat will need another concerted effort from him on both ends of the floor on Friday.

Fortunately for Miami, Butler has recorded multiple steals in 47 different games in his postseason career. He did so 12 times in 17 playoff games last summer, averaging 2.1 steals per contest during Miami’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The best part about Butler is he is capable of clearing this number by a good margin. On April 4, he recorded four steals against the Detroit Pistons. He has notched three or more steals in 25 different postseason games in his career.

Butler might be averaging only 1.8 steals per game this season, but he is capable of cashing this Over in what should be a defensive battle against Chicago. This is only a three-star pick because the Bulls have done a good job of taking care of the rock this year.

Bulls vs. Heat best odds

FanDuel (+112)

This line was priced closer to even-money in Miami’s play-in matchup against Atlanta, only for Butler to record two steals and a block. It almost seems too good to be true that FanDuel is now offering this +112 price on Butler to record two or more steals in a must-win game against Chicago.

Don’t ask questions, as we would play this prop at anything +100 or better. Take the best number and root for Butler to bring it on the defensive end Friday night.

Bulls vs. Heat odds

Bulls vs. Heat odds analysis

The Heat are now 5.5-point favorites for Friday’s play-in battle after the line opened at 5, though there might be more movement ahead of tipoff. The total is down to 209 after opening at 210 at our best sportsbooks.

During the 2022-23 regular season, Chicago went 40-39-3 against the spread with a 44-36-2 record to the Under. Miami posted a 31-49-2 ATS clip with a 41-41 record on the totals. 

The Heat are 3-6 against the spread over the last nine games, including losing outright as 5.5-point favorites against the Hawks. The Bulls have covered the number in three straight games and five of their last seven.

Bulls vs. Heat game info

• Date: Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT
• Location: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL

Bulls-Heat pick made 04/13/2023 at 1:05 p.m. ET

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