Chicago swept the three-game season series from Miami. That could swing bettors in the Bulls’ favor, especially considering they are 5.5-point underdogs.
I think the Heat will win this game, but I am not bullish enough (no pun intended) to declare that laying the points is an obvious play. I also expect that the total will come close to its current 208-point number.
Therefore, I think player props are our most profitable course of action. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite Heat-Bulls player props for Friday night’s Play-In game.
Heat vs Bulls Player Prop Odds
In addition to our prop tips below, use our NBA lines to find our full list of playoff props:
Heat vs Bulls Player Props
Nikola Vucevic: 12+ Points/10+ Rebounds (-120) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Nikola Vucevic has managed to score at least 12 points and pull down 10 boards in his past four matchups with Heat center Bam Adebayo. He has also done this in eight of their past 10 meetings.
The Heat were destroyed on the glass in their loss to the Hawks on Tuesday night. Atlanta outrebounded Miami 63-39. That included 21 rebounds by Clint Capela in just 28 minutes. Vucevic tied Capela for seventh league-wide in rebounds per game (11.0) this season.
Asking for 20 or more rebounds is a stretch. Still, considering his recent history and the matchup, this NBA bet of the day should at least give backers a winning piece of his likely productive night.
Coby White: 2+ Three-Pointers Made (+105) • FanDuel Sportsbook
Coby White: 10+ Points (+100) • FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
To be clear, I am not proposing that you have to bet on both of these props. I think you certainly can because I believe they are tightly correlated.
If we remove Sunday’s regular-season finale from the equation, Coby White scored at least 10 points in 11 of his final 14 regular-season games. He also drained multiple three-pointers in 11 of those 14 games. In 10 of the 14, he did both.
He also accomplished these feats in all three meetings with Miami this season. On all three occasions, at least 60 percent of his scoring output came from beyond the three-point line. If White hits his long-range shots, he will likely score in double figures.
Chicago essentially utilized a seven-man rotation in its victory against the Toronto Raptors. White will play a key role off the bench as a scorer and playmaker. He may also benefit from facing a lesser defender depending on how Miami alters its rotation.
If I had to choose one, I would likely settle on his three-pointers. However, I think both are solid plays, and I expect a fair amount of CLV (closing line value) on these numbers by the opening tip.
Max Strus OVER 9.5 Points (+100) • FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
This is an intriguing player prop that you may be able to extract value from the closer we get to game time.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has indicated that he may make changes to his starting lineup. Max Strus is one player who may end up coming off the bench. If this is the case, this number may drop to 8.5 or even 7.5.
I am here to tell you that it should not.
Strus has faced the Chicago Bulls three times this season, but only once as a starter. In that game, he scored just four points. However, in the two games he came off the bench against Chicago, he finished with 22 and 20 points. Strange but true.
If he does indeed play on the second unit, he could be asked to shoot more than he would if he was playing alongside Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo. He also may spend less time being defended by good defenders like Alex Caruso and Patrick Beverley.
Of course, extra motivation does not hurt. Strus grew up in the Chicago area. He also played two games for the Bulls in his rookie season before ending up with the Heat.
I am sure he would relish the opportunity to be a big part of the reason his former team misses out on the playoffs.
