For a third consecutive year, the Bulls and Heat will meet in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Miami eliminated Chicago in 2023 and 2024, earning the No. 8 seed in the last two Eastern Conference brackets.
The Bulls continue to churn out seasons just below .500 and haven't been to the postseason since the 2021-22 campaign. That playoff run ended quickly with a first-round series loss to the Bucks, marking the team's only postseason appearance under current head coach Billy Donovan.
The Heat, meanwhile, have been tremendous over the past five years. They reached the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 and Eastern Conference finals in 2022. Miami will miss the postseason heroics of Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Warriors in February, but the franchise still has Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Here is a complete guide to watching Bulls vs. Heat, including the start time, TV channel and live stream information for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament game.
What channel is Bulls vs. Heat on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling
The Bulls vs. Heat Play-In game will air live on ESPN on Wednesday, April 16.
Fans looking to stream Bulls vs. Heat can watch live on Sling, which will carry every playoff game in 2025.
Sling is your home for playoff action. Catch NBA and NHL postseason games with a range of sports channels, including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, ABC and more.
Bulls vs. Heat start time
- Date: Wednesday, April 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. CT
The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament game between the Bulls and Heat is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago.
The Heat had a terrific run with Butler, but it's a new era in Miami. Herro and Adebayo lead a team looking to make its sixth straight playoff appearance.
The Bulls, on the other hand, have only made two trips to the playoffs since Tom Thibodeau was fired in 2015. The team sent out Zach LaVine before the trade deadline in a three-team deal with the Kings and Spurs, receiving Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones and their own 2025 first-round pick.
Bulls vs. Heat radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM channels 86, 212
Fans can listen to Bulls vs. Heat live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 86 (Bulls broadcast) and 212 (Heat broadcast).
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule 2025
Tuesday, April 15
Winners advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed
- Magic 120, Hawks 95
- Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116
Wednesday, April 16
Losers are eliminated, winners play Friday
- Bulls vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
- Kings vs. Mavs, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
Friday, April 18
Winners advance to playoffs as No. 8 seed
- Hawks vs. Bulls-Heat winner, 7 p.m. ET, TNT, Sling
- Grizzlies vs. Kings-Mavs winner, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 15-18 |
| First round begins | April 19 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 5-6 |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 12 |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 21 |
| NBA Finals begin | June 5 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 22 |
| NBA Draft | June 25-26 |
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