The Miami Heat (20-17) and Chicago Bulls (17-20) will face off in the NBA on Thursday night. Tipoff from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Heat are 7.5-point favorites over the Bulls on the spread, with the over/under set at 237.5 total points. Miami is a -270 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Chicago is +220 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Heat vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, January 8.
Heat vs Bulls Prediction, Picks
- Heat vs Bulls pick: Tre Jones Over 6.5 Assists (-135)
My Bulls vs Heat best bet is on Tre Jones to record over 6.5 assists, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Heat vs Bulls Odds for Thursday, Jan. 8
| Heat Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -105 | 237.5 -110o / -110u | -270 |
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -115 | 237.5 -110o / -110u | +220 |
Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls NBA Preview
The Heat are in dire need of a bounce-back spot, and they have a decent one here across from the Bulls.
Miami is 5-2 in their last seven but just got their ass whooped loudly and on national television — their first NBC game in over 20 years — losing to Minnesota 122-94.
It was arguably their worst loss of the season, just five days after their best win of the season, a 118-112 triumph over a mostly healthy Pistons team in Detroit.
Chicago is on the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Pistons on Wednesday night. Detroit sat Cade Cunningham, and is still without Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris. The Bulls took an L, losing 108-93, their third straight. Chicago has also lost 5-of-7.
Injury-wise, for Miami, watch them throughout the day.
Bam Adebayo looks to be playing through an injury if you're watching him now compared to his start to the season. Zero lift or touch on offense, not fully himself on defense, though still really good. But he does play through these, so we'll see.
Tyler Herro returned last game from a toe injury, but as of now, is expected to play again Thursday.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) is questionable and hasn't played since January 3. Terry Rozier… you get the idea.
For Chicago, keep your eyes peeled as well.
Josh Giddey (hamstring), Coby White (injury management), Jalen Smith (concussion), and Zach Collins (toe) sat out Wednesday night.
Of this group, White is the only player you might expect to play tonight because he just returned from injury and sat the front end of a back-to-back. The other three are expected to have slightly longer absences, barring new information.
Heat vs Bulls Betting Predictions, Analysis
Tre Jones has gotten over 6.5 assists in four of seven without Josh Giddey and in three of his last five games.
We'll see who else is out there for Chicago, but with Jones running the show, he has a relatively high ceiling from a distribution standpoint.
The Heat are still No. 1 in pace, even if their offense has fallen off a cliff, so we should expect a ton of possessions tonight, and thus, more opportunities for Jones to cash.
Heat vs Bulls Best Bet
- Tre Jones Over 6.5 Assists (-135)
Bulls vs Heat Betting Trends
For the latest on NBA injuries, be sure to check out our NBA Injury Report page.
