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Offseason | NBA Week 26

NBA Play-In: Bulls-Heat Preview, Props & Prediction

Fri Apr 19 2:07pm ET
Field Level Media

Instead of counting on Jimmy Butler to lead the team into the postseason, the Miami Heat will be in full collective-effort mode when they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in the loser-goes-home play-in game.

Butler will sit out with a sprained MCL in his right knee that was sustained during Wednesday's 105-104 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

THE ODDS

The Heat are anywhere from 1.5- to 2.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks despite Butler's absence. The line has held steady at 2.5 at BetMGM, where the money has been nearly split with Miami backed by 52 percent.


However, the Heat's +110 moneyline has been a clear favorite, drawing 74 percent of the money since opening at +115.

The consensus Over/Under is 205.5 points on Friday. The Over has been backed by 80 percent of the bets and 79 percent of the money at BetMGM.

PROP PICK

DeMar DeRozan Over 26.5 Points (-120 at BetMGM): The under on this prop has actually been the most popular player prop at the book for this matchup. The Bulls guard is averaging 24.0 points per game on the season. When the teams last met with two games in a three-day stretch in Miami in December, DeRozan poured in 27 and 23 points. DeRozan averaged 34.3 points over the final three regular-season games before scoring 22 in Wednesday's 131-116 win over Atlanta.

PREDICTION

The teams split four previous meetings this season and while Miami has the home-court advantage, the news that Butler may be done for the season has to weigh heavily on the Heat. It also opens the door for the Bulls to sneak out of South Florida with a hard-fought win. Prediction: Bulls 104, Heat 102

INJURY REPORT

Butler underwent an MRI exam Thursday that determined the severity. It is possible that Butler has played his final game of the 2023-24 season, whether or not the Heat win the pivotal game against Chicago.

"It felt like I couldn't do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything," Butler said after the Philadelphia game. "I hope that I'm fine. ... Right now, I can't say that's the case."

Butler was injured in the first quarter of Wednesday's game and remained in the contest. He finished with 19 points but was just 5-of-18 shooting.

His lack of effectiveness was noticeable in the second half. Butler took just two shots -- making one -- in the final quarter.

"I wasn't able to do anything on either side of the ball," Butler said. "I think I hurt us more than I helped us, actually."

Miami guard Terry Rozier (neck) also has been ruled out of Friday's game. This will be his sixth straight missed game.

Bulls guard Alex Caruso is questionable with a sprained left ankle. He sustained the injury when teammate Andre Drummond was running up the court and stepped on his ankle. Drummond (left ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (quadricep) also are questionable and played Wednesday despite their injuries.

THE NEWS

The Heat also will need better efforts from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo against the Bulls. Herro scored 25 points against Philadelphia but made just nine of 27 shots. Adebayo had just 10 points but did collect 12 rebounds.

The loss to the 76ers leaves Miami in a similar position as last season when the Heat lost their first play-in game (to Atlanta) before beating Chicago 102-91 in the second contest to reach the playoffs. The Heat eventually advanced to the NBA Finals before losing to the Denver Nuggets.

Miami finished with a 15-1 burst to overcome the Bulls last season.

"I remember that plane ride back home vividly," DeRozan said. "Everybody was just frustrated. That feeling sucked. I know for me, that's one thing that's on my mind once I realized we were going back to Miami -- to not have that same feeling."

Against the Hawks on Wednesday, Coby White poured in 42 points -- a career best, though the game won't count toward official statkeeping -- to lead the way.

White also is fueled by last season's loss and remembered the highly contested games between the teams this season.

"It's going to be a junkyard fight, a dogfight," White said. "We know Miami, they know us. ... We have to come in ready to compete and leave it all on the floor."

THEY SAID IT

Caruso is expecting his club to be ready for the task Friday night.

"We've got guys on the team when the lights come on and they are bright, they step up to the challenge," he said. "I've had moments like that in my career; DeMar countless numbers. (Nikola Vucevic) has played playoff basketball."

"I think that's one of great strengths that we do have guys who can go off any given night. Coby's put in the work. It's not surprising for us because we know how good he can be and that's how confident we want him to play all the time."

UP NEXT

The winner of the Miami-Chicago game advances to play the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Player Notes
Terance Mann Fri May 3 4:40pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (leg) was seen at shootaround ahead of Friday's Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Mann is listed as questionable heading into this game due to a right leg contusion. The fact Mann was seen at shootaround is a good sign heading into Friday's game. The team will likely wait to see how Mann feels during pregame warmups before making a final decision. His absence would likely mean increased playing time for Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell.

Jarrett Allen Fri May 3 12:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (ribs) remains listed as questionable for Friday night's Game 6 against the Orlando Magic. The big man was spotted at shootaround on Friday morning but his level of participation is unclear. He was unable to play in Game 5 on Tuesday due to the rib contusion, so it seems like he'll be a game-time decision in this potential series-clinching game. DFS managers will want to check back when it gets closer to tipoff since his presence usually means a bit of a value hit to Evan Mobley when it comes to rebounds and defensive stats.

Gary Harris Fri May 3 11:50am

Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) was officially listed as questionable when the injury report first came out, and head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed that to still be the case. During shootaround on Friday morning, Mosley was asked if Harris was likely to play and he said, "He went through walk-through. He's going to go through his shooting slot, so he'll still be more of a game-time decision." While it's encouraging that he went through the walk-through and is still scheduled to get his shooting in, there could be some discomfort leading up to game time. DFS managers will want to monitor his situation if thinking about using him in any lineups.

Josh Hart Fri May 3 11:50am

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart delivered yet again with huge hustle plays and a dagger three that officially moved the team into the second round of the playoffs. The former Villanova Wildcat finished the game with 16 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and two turnovers while shooting 5-for-11 overall and 3-for-5 from three. He was the Knicks' second-leading scorer in this series and had double the amount of rebounds per game compared to their second-best rebounder. On top of that, he shot some of his best percentages from three in his career as he registered 43.2% from deep on 6.2 attempts per game.

Joel Embiid Fri May 3 11:40am

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid fouled out late in Game 6 after intentionally fouling with the clock ticking down, but he was able to keep the team in the game while battling on the offensive end and on the boards. The former MVP posted 39 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block, and five turnovers. He also shot 12-for-25 from the floor, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 13-for-13 from the free throw line. Despite the injured knee and Bells Palsy, the superstar big man ended this series with averages of 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game with shooting splits of .444/.333/.859.

Jalen Brunson Fri May 3 11:20am

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson turned in a historic performance after posting a third-straight 40-point performance and his fourth game of at least 39 points and six assists. In Game 6, Brunson finished with 41 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, and two turnovers while shooting 13-for-27 from the floor and 3-for-8 from deep. The Villanova product hit multiple big shots down the stretch of the game to put it just out of reach for the 76ers and lead the Knicks to their second playoff series win since the 2012-13 season. Despite a rough start in the first two games of the series, he found his rhythm and carried the offense to the tune of 35.5 points per game and he's currently the leading scorer throughout the entire playoffs so far.

Khris Middleton Thu May 2 9:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton had 14 points in Thursday's loss to the Pacers. He added four boards, three assists, and two steals. While the veteran did all he could, his efforts weren't enough to lead Milwaukee to a win, eliminating the team from the playoffs. Middleton finished the regular season by averaging 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. However, as usual, the 32-year-old was limited to 55 games due to injury. Middleton's play is never a concern. But his inability to stay healthy will negatively impact his fantasy stock heading into the 2024-25 campaign, no matter where he's playing.

Damian Lillard Thu May 2 9:40pm

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) was back in the lineup for Thursday's playoff meeting with Indiana after missing a few contests with an Achilles injury. He played well, scoring a game-high 28 points while shooting 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-12 from deep. Unfortunately, Lillard's return didn't help, as the Pacers got the win to eliminate the Bucks from the postseason. Lillard has been one of the league's most potent scorers for years. However, the 33-year-old took a step backward in his first season with the Bucks, averaging 24.3 points, nearly eight fewer than he had in his final season in Portland. On a positive note, he logged 73 games during the regular season, his most since 2017-18. But it appears Lillard is starting to regress statistically, so his fantasy ranking for next season won't be as favorable.

Jarrett Allen Thu May 2 9:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable for Friday's matchup with Orlando. The veteran is bothered by a right rib contusion, keeping him off the floor for Tuesday's win. He didn't practice on Thursday, although it appears he still has a chance to suit up for Game 6. However, if Allen misses another contest, Isaac Okoro will likely remain in the starting lineup. On the other hand, Marcus Morris Sr., coming off a 12-point effort in Game 5, would be the preferred DFS value option if Allen can't go.

Tim Hardaway Jr. Thu May 2 9:10pm

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) remains out for Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. The sharpshooting veteran tweaked his right ankle in Game 2 of this series and hasn't been available since. Without him, Maxi Kleber and Josh Green have gotten more minutes, even though neither player has been able to take advantage of their extra time on the floor.

Terance Mann Thu May 2 9:10pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (leg) is questionable for Friday's postseason encounter with the Mavericks. As expected, Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out, so the team needs Mann to help fill the void in the lineup. The 27-year-old has posted double-digit scoring performances three times during the series. However, Mann is not a consistent fantasy producer, although the upside is there for the DFS managers willing to take a risk, assuming he plays. If he doesn't, Norman Powell, Amir Coffey, and Russell Westbrook should absorb most of his minutes.

Kawhi Leonard Thu May 2 9:00pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) won't play on Friday against the Mavericks. There isn't any new information concerning his ailment. However, the Clippers need to win the next two games to advance to the next round, although they will likely need to do it without Leonard in the lineup. As usual, Paul George and James Harden will do their best to lead the offense in Game 6. But Norman Powell, Russell Westbrook, and Terance Mann should continue to get more minutes and shot opportunities. With that said, nobody on the Clippers' roster has been consistent from a fantasy standpoint.

Mitchell Robinson Thu May 2 9:00pm

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will be available for Game 6 against Philadelphia on Thursday. He has missed one game in the series with an ankle injury, but Robinson has been upgraded from questionable to available ahead of the Game 6 tip-off. Robinson has an important role to play behind starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, as the Knicks' success depends a lot on how well they deal with Joel Embiid.

Joel Embiid Thu May 2 8:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) will be in the lineup for Thursday's Game 6 clash against the Knicks. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Embiid has yet to miss any playoff action after returning from a left knee injury, and another big performance is expected from him in Thursday's elimination game. The 76ers superstar looked quite lethargic in Tuesday's survival battle but still produced a triple-double. He's averaging close to 32 points in the postseason with 10.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals.

Tyrese Haliburton Thu May 2 6:00pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) will be good to go for Thursday's Game 6 against Milwaukee. An issue with his lower back has kept Haliburton on the injury report for the past few games, but the team has upgraded him from questionable to available ahead of Thursday's action. The young Pacers star will aim to produce a big finish to the series. Through five games, he's gotten to the 20-point mark only once, averaging 15.8 points in the first-round matchup with 5.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists.

Patrick Beverley Thu May 2 6:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley (oblique) has been upgraded from probable to available for Thursday's Game 6 against Indiana. Beverley is set to make up Milwaukee's starting backcourt with the returning Damian Lillard (Achilles). He will likely take a backseat offensively, but Beverley's tenacity on the defensive end is a big asset for the Bucks, and he should continue to get a healthy dose of action. Through the first five games in the series, Beverley has averaged 34.0 minutes a night, posting 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.

Khris Middleton Thu May 2 5:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been officially cleared to play in Thursday's Game 6 against the Pacers. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Middleton has been huge in the series for Milwaukee, but he will likely play a slightly lesser role offensively on Thursday as Damian Lillard (Achilles) returns to the lineup. With that said, the team needs another big performance from Middleton to survive in the series, with Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still on the shelf.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Thu May 2 5:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) isn't ready to return to the lineup on Thursday against Indiana. He was considered a game-time call for the contest along with Damian Lillard (Achilles), but while Lillard will be back in action, Antetokounmpo is still left to wait for his chance to return. It won't come in the 2024 playoffs if Milwaukee loses on Thursday. Bobby Portis was one of the stars in Milwaukee's Game 5 victory, recording 29 points with 10 rebounds, and he's set for another start in Antetokounmpo's place on Thursday.

Damian Lillard Thu May 2 5:30pm

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) will play in Game 6 against Indiana on Thursday. Milwaukee gets its superstar guard back after Lillard sat out two games with an Achilles injury. He's set to play a huge role on Thursday as the Bucks try to fight off elimination once again. Lillard is averaging 32.3 points and 5.3 assists in the series, shooting 44.4 percent from outside.

Gary Harris Thu May 2 5:20pm

Orlando Magic guard/forward Gary Harris (hamstring) is considered a game-time call for Friday's Game 6 against Cleveland. He suffered a right hamstring strain in Game 5, exiting the contest early. Harris has started all five games for the Magic in the playoffs, averaging 26.2 minutes. However, he hasn't been very productive, posting only 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony could get more playing opportunities on Friday, but the two haven't made any noise in the playoffs and would be risky choices for DFS managers.