NBA Play-In Tournament: Previewing the Bulls-Heat, Mavs-Kings Elimination Games

The NBA regular season is finally over, and that left us with 20 teams still alive. The Heat will head to Chicago, to take on the Bulls, and Anthony Davis and the Mavs will take on the Kings in Sacramento. The winner will advance to face the loser of the 7-8 game, and the winner of that game will advance to be the 8 seed in the playoffs.

*Stats Are As of 4/15/25

(10) Heat (37-45) @ (9) Bulls (39-43) - 7:30 PM ET ESPN

In the postseason, not in the playoffs. That has been the story, in recent memory for these 2 teams. These two teams have had almost one thing certain from the start of the season that was inevitable - the Play-In Tournament. The Bulls were 10-3 in their final 13 games to close out the season, including a win over the Heat in Chicago. The Heat have been a very up and down team. After losing 10 straight games, the Heat got hot, winning 6 in a row. Then, they finished out their final 6 games 2-4, including the loss to Chicago. Assuming that the Heat would have beaten the Wizards (they were resting their starters) and won the Chicago game, this game would have been played in Miami, shifting the whole momentum. The winner of this game will play the Atlanta Hawks, after they lost to Orlando in the first play-in game. Whoever wins that game will take on Cleveland in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Impact Player(s)

Heat - Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins came to Miami after being dealt by Golden State in the Jimmy Butler trade. While the sample size is small (3 games), Wiggins has absolutely torn apart Chicago’s defense in those matchups. His 3 pointer is up 9% when he is playing against the Bulls, and his overall field goal percentage is also up. Look for the Heat to run a high pick-and-roll with Wiggins sometimes, as when Bam Adebayo needs a rest, Wiggins could be tasked with playing center, and guarding Nikola Vučević.

Bulls - Matas Buzelis

The rookie, Matas Buzelis, will be playing postseason basketball for the first time in his young NBA career. He currently averages 8.6 points per game. However, that number has skyrocketed in the 3 games he has against the Heat, averaging 18 PPG against them. He has a ridiculous 57% 3-point percentage and has not missed a free throw versus the Miami Heat. I think that if they can set him some screens, and get him loose on the perimeter, Buzelis could have a big role in helping the Bulls come out with a win.

Score Prediction:

Heat 127 Bulls 129

(10) Mavericks (39-43) @ (9) Kings (40-42) - 10:00 PM ET ESPN

After trading Luka Dončić away, the Anthony Davis led Mavs are heading into Sacramento to take on the Kings. These 2 teams are hoping to extend their season at least one more game. The winner of this game will head to either Golden State or Memphis to play the loser of the Warriors and Grizzlies game. They will play each other on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to play the Houston Rockets. The loser will play the winner of this Mavericks and Kings game, with the winner of that taking on the NBA best, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the soon to be MVP, Shai Geilgios-Alexander. These 2 squads were on the opposite sides of their approach at the trade deadline, with the Kings in buy mode, getting Jonas Valancuinas and Zach Lavine. In opposite fashion, the Mavs shipped off Luka Dončić in what may end up being known as the worst trade ever.

Impact Player(s)

Mavericks - Daniel Gafford

Daniel Gafford will have to have a very big role in this game against the Kings. He will need to guard Jonas Valancuinas and will need to be able to know down his mid-range shot. With Anthony Davis a game-time decision and Kyrie Irving out for the season Gafford has stepped up as the team leader, and will have to rally his guys against a more skilled Sacramento Kings. Look for Gafford to set Klay Thompson some down screens, and then roll to the basket. That is where the Mavs offence thrives the most. 

Kings - Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine has been extremely hot as of late. After being shipped to Sacramento in the deal with De’Aaron Fox, he has been the leader of this Kings squad. He reunited with former Bulls teammate, Demar DeRozan. In 2 of his last 5 games, LaVine has had 43 against the Cavaliers, and 37 against the Piston, both of which are playoff teams. I think that if he gets his 3-point shot to fall early, Sacramento may put this game away very quickly.

Score Prediction:

Mavs 95 Kings 127