Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls March 8th 2025

At 8:00 ET, the Miami Heat (-166) will host the Chicago Bulls (+140) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Heat are currently favored by 4 points over the Bulls, and the over/under line is set at 226.

Miami comes into this game having lost their last two games and currently sit 7th in the Eastern Conference. On the other side, the Bulls are 10th in the East and have a record of 25-38.

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Bulls vs. Heat Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat
• Where: Miami at Kaseya Center
• Date: Saturday, March 8th
• Betting Odds MIA -4, CHI +140 | MIA -166 O/U 226

The Bulls Can Win If…

With a 125-123 win over the Magic on Thursday, the Bulls improved to 25-38 this season. Chicago, who were +8.5 point underdogs, not only won but also covered the spread. The game’s total of 248 points exceeded the O/U line of 221 by 27 points.

After a 13-0 run by the Magic, the Bulls responded by outscoring Orlando 29-22 in the 4th quarter to secure the win. Chicago took control in the 2nd quarter, winning it 36-31, but the Magic bounced back in the 3rd, outscoring the Bulls 35-27 before Chicago’s strong finish.

Coby White led the Bulls to a win over the Magic, pouring in 44 points and hitting 7 threes at a 46.7% rate. He shot 57.1% from the field, with 17 points coming in the 4th quarter. Chicago hit 15 threes as a team, shooting 37.5% from deep and 50% overall.

Tre Jones added 20 points, with 10 in the final period, while Josh Giddey contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. Matas Buzelis chipped in 8 of his 11 points in the opening quarter.

Despite giving up 123 points, the Bulls’ defense tightened up in the 4th quarter, allowing just 22 points to help secure the win. They struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up 35 points in each, and allowed 31 in the 2nd. Overall, the Magic shot 46% from the field.

Chicago did a good job defending the three, holding Orlando to 9 made threes on 27% shooting. The Bulls also recorded 5 steals and 7 blocks in the game.

• In their last ten games away from home, the Bulls have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 5-5 vs. the spread. The team averaged 115 points per game in this stretch.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bulls have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
• Over their last five games, the Bulls have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Heat Can Win If…

Miami fell to 29-33 on the season after a 106-104 loss to the Timberwolves on Friday. The Heat were +3.5 point underdogs but covered the spread with the two-point loss. The game’s total points of 210 fell short of the O/U line of 218.

After a slow start, Miami responded with a 10-0 run, turning a 77-72 deficit into an 82-77 lead. However, the Timberwolves rallied in the final quarter, outscoring the Heat 26-24 to seal the win.

Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 29 points and 13 rebounds in their 106-104 loss to the Timberwolves, shooting 52.4% from the field. Tyler Herro added 22 points, hitting 4 threes at a 50% clip, while Duncan Robinson also connected on 4 triples, shooting 57.1% and finishing with 15 points.

Miami hit 14 threes, shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc, and finished with a 46.1% overall field goal percentage. Adebayo scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter, while Herro added 7 in the period and 5 more in the 4th.

Despite a strong defensive effort in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed just 19 points, the Heat couldn’t overcome their 1st quarter struggles, giving up 33 points in a 106-104 loss to the Timberwolves. Miami also allowed 28 points in the 3rd and 26 in the 4th, with Minnesota shooting 49% from the field.

The Heat struggled to defend the three-point line, as the Timberwolves hit 18 threes at a 40% clip. Miami sent Minnesota to the free-throw line 14 times, where they made 8. The Heat finished with 34 defensive rebounds, allowing 7 offensive boards, and recorded 7 steals and 2 blocks.

• Through their last three home games, Miami has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 102 points per game.
• The Heat have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.
• In their last three games, the Heat have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 3-0 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Heat to secure the win, with an expected final score of 132-121. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -4.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 226, and our model projects the Bulls and Heat to reach a combined total of 253 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

NBA Picks & Predictions

Coby White’s Breakout Fuels Bulls Ahead of Clash with Injury-Plagued Heat

The Chicago Bulls are gearing up for a crucial matchup against the Miami Heat on Saturday night, with Coby White emerging as the team’s driving force. As the Bulls hold onto the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, every game matters in the race for the NBA Play-In Tournament. Meanwhile, the Heat, sitting at 7th place, are battling through injury struggles but remain a formidable opponent under Erik Spoelstra.

Coby White’s Career Night Ignites Bulls’ Playoff Push

White is playing the best basketball of his career at the perfect time. In Chicago’s 125-123 road victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, the 24-year-old guard exploded for a career-high 44 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter. He shot 16-of-28 from the field and drained 7-of-15 three-pointers, proving his ability to take over games.

“I just wanted to take whatever was given to me,” White said after the game. “They didn’t want me to get off any threes, so they were kind of pressing up on me. The coaching staff did a hell of a job of putting all of us in position where we could succeed. I give credit to my teammates for trusting in me.”

With key players like Lonzo Ball (wrist), Nikola Vucevic (calf), and Patrick Williams (knee) sidelined, White has taken on a greater scoring load, averaging at least 24 points in his last four games. His late-game heroics—scoring Chicago’s final nine points on Thursday—solidify his growing role as a leader.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan praised White’s ability to stay poised under pressure:

“(White) was in the game. Besides the scoring part of it, the leadership, the voice was great. Even when we would get a little frustrated because it was a very physical game, (White) just kept messaging the guys, ‘Just focus on what we can control.’ Even just coming down the stretch, I thought he was a great calming force for our guys and just stayed in it.”

Miami Heat: Battling Injuries, Staying Competitive

While the Bulls come in with momentum, the Miami Heat are trying to navigate a tough stretch filled with injuries. They’ve lost three of their last four games, but all by close margins—a combined 11 points.

Miami started its current five-game homestand with a 106-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Bam Adebayo led the way with 29 points and 13 rebounds, marking his third consecutive double-double.

Despite the losses, coach Erik Spoelstra remains optimistic:

“Even with this result, I hope Heat Nation and the fans can really appreciate how hard our guys are competing. And we ain’t going anywhere. We’re going to get this right.”

The Heat have been constantly adjusting their starting lineup, using different combinations in five straight games. Jimmy Butler’s status is unmentioned in the report, but his presence—or absence—will be crucial in Miami’s ability to compete.

Heat’s Injury Report

Miami played without:

• Andrew Wiggins (ankle sprain)
• Kel’el Ware (ankle sprain)
• Alec Burks (lower back pain)

All three are listed as day-to-day, though Spoelstra remains hopeful:

“The good thing is we’re definitely seeing progress in the training room with everybody. It’s unfortunate with Alec. He’s been doing whatever he could do the last two days, but his back just tightened up. But everybody is feeling better. I’ve been encouraged by it.”

A bright spot for Miami was the return of Tyler Herro, who missed one game due to illness but came back strong with 22 points in 39 minutes on Friday.

Playoff Picture & Key Matchup to Watch

Both teams understand the playoff implications of this matchup. The Bulls (10th seed) are fighting to stay in the play-in race, while the Heat (7th seed) are hoping to avoid falling lower in the standings.

Key Matchup: Coby White vs. Miami’s Perimeter Defense

With Miami missing key defensive players, can they contain White’s offensive explosion? If White continues his hot streak, the Bulls could secure another crucial win in their playoff push.

Final Thoughts

This will be the second meeting between these teams this season. The Bulls won the first matchup 133-124 on February 4, but both rosters have since been affected by injuries.

Can Coby White carry the Bulls again, or will the Heat’s resilience shine through despite their injury setbacks? Saturday’s showdown will have major playoff implications.

Prediction: A Close, Gritty Battle

Given both teams’ injury issues and recent performances, expect a closely contested game that could come down to fourth-quarter execution. If White stays hot and Miami’s defense struggles, Chicago has the edge. However, if Adebayo and Herro step up, Miami could grind out a tough win at home.

Key Stats to Watch:

• Coby White’s last 4 games: 24+ PPG
• Bam Adebayo’s last 3 games: Double-doubles
• Heat’s last 3 losses: By a combined 11 points
• Tyler Herro’s return: 22 points in 39 minutes