- Matchup: Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls
- Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: NBA TV
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The Miami Heat (20-17) are heading to United Center on Thursday to face off against the Chicago Bulls (17-19).
In their previous game on the hardwood, the Heat faced the Timberwolves and suffered a defeat, falling 122-94. Miami committed 20 fouls while the Timberwolves accumulated 23. From long range, the Heat converted 14 of 39 attempts, while Minnesota excelled at the free throw line, hitting 18 of 23 for 78.3%. The Timberwolves secured a total of 63 rebounds (11 offensive, 52 defensive) and recorded 4 blocks. They also assisted on 27 baskets and came away with 7 steals. Defensively, Miami allowed their opponents to shoot 45.9% from the field (45 of 98). The Heat managed 28 assists, forced 12 turnovers, and secured 5 steals, while grabbing a total of 50 rebounds, with 11 offensive. At the charity stripe, they converted 12 of 16 attempts, achieving a shooting percentage of 75.0%. Miami ended the game with a field goal percentage of 35.7% (35 out of 98) and made 12 of 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
Norman Powell emerged as a key player in this matchup. Powell recorded a shooting percentage of 52.9% from the field and contributed 4 assists, spending 31 minutes on the court while snagging 3 rebounds. He tallied 21 points with 9 baskets out of 17 attempts.
Miami enters the game with a 20-17 record for the season. They are averaging 14.4 turnovers per game and committing approximately 18.9 fouls per contest. The team is securing 45.6 rebounds per game and has tallied 1,062 assists this season, ranking 3rd in the league for passing. The Heat are shooting 37.0% from long range (487 of 1,315) and 79.3% from free throws. They average 120.1 points per game, placing them 3rd in the league, while shooting 46.9% from the floor.
Defensively, the Heat force 16.2 turnovers per game and average 20.3 personal fouls. They rank 23rd in assists allowed to opponents with 1,004 for the season. Opponents are shooting 45.9% against them (1,586 of 3,457), and Miami concedes 47.2 rebounds per game. The Heat allow 34.4% on 3-point shots and rank 20th in points allowed per game (117.4).
In their last game, the Bulls fell to the Celtics with a score of 115-101. In terms of rebounding, Chicago allowed Boston to grab 54 total boards (20 offensive). The Bulls shot 38.5% from 3-point range, hitting 20 of 52 attempts, and completed 11 of 13 free throws for an 84.6% success rate. Boston finished 42 of 104 from the floor, achieving a shooting percentage of 40.4%. The Bulls ended the game shooting 38 out of 86, resulting in a 44.2% field goal percentage, and they made 16 of 46 attempts from beyond the arc (34.8%). They converted 9 of 10 free throws for a 90.0% rate. With 11 fouls, the Bulls were given 10 free throw attempts and committed 13 turnovers while notching 2 steals. They secured 39 defensive rebounds and 6 offensive boards for a total of 45 rebounds in the matchup.
Matas Buzelis was a standout performer for the Bulls, shooting 9 of 12 for a remarkable field goal percentage of 75.0%, alongside 3 rebounds and totaling 26 points in 31 minutes, while also assisting 2 times in the game.
Chicago’s current record stands at 17-19 for the season. The Bulls commit 19.1 fouls per game and convert 78.4% of their free throw attempts. They average 29.4 assists per game (ranking 3rd in the league) while turning the ball over 14.7 times. The Bulls have scored a total of 4,240 points this year, averaging 117.8 per game, and they gather 45.6 rebounds nightly. On offense, Chicago shoots 47.3% from the field, ranking 13th in the NBA.
Defensively, the Bulls are 26th in points allowed per game, surrendering 121.6. They force 12.7 turnovers per game, permitting opponents a 47.3% shooting rate (20th in basketball). The Chicago defense allows 36.7% from beyond the arc (503 of 1,372) and their opponents capitalize on 78.0% of free throw attempts. They yield 27.5 assists and 45.6 rebounds on average, ranking 22nd and 23rd in the NBA respectively.
Who will prevail in tonight’s NBA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Take Chicago
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