It certainly dates back further, but the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have carved out a unique rivalry over the last three seasons. Both teams have locked themselves into Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament spots, but the Heat have owned the duel, ending Chicago's year short of the playoffs each of the last three campaigns.
The Heat and Bulls currently sit sixth and seventh, respectively, in the East standings -- because of course they do. If the season ended today, at least both would be playoff-bound instead of Play-In stuck.
But there are 67 regular-season games left for Miami and 68 for Chicago, and the two will meet three more times this year, including twice in three days on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. Both of those games will be in South Beach. Every matchup will count for playoff (or Play-In seeding).
The Bulls could be without Tre Jones and Coby White against the Heat
Chicago is coming off a trio of exhausting games on the West Coast. The Bulls lost to the Utah Jazz in double overtime one night before holding on to beat Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. A Nikola Vucevic buzzer-beater gave them a 122-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers two nights later.
Coby White made his season debut against the Jazz after dealing with a lingering calf injury and blew past his minutes restriction, playing 30 minutes and leading Chicago in scoring with 27 points. He was 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. After sitting out the win in Denver, he scored 25 points and hit five 3-pointers in 27 minutes in Portland.
Tre Jones started the Bulls' first 11 games in place of White and was his usual efficient, productive self on both ends, but he hasn't played since Nov. 12 as he deals with an ankle issue.
Andrew Wiggins a surprise scratch for the Heat
Guard Tyler Herro has yet to make his season debut for Miami after undergoing ankle surgery in September. But he's not the only critical piece missing for the Heat in Chicago.
Bam Adebayo has only played eight games this year as he deals with a toe injury. But the surprise addition to the injury report is Andrew Wiggins. The 30-year-old wing will be out of the lineup against the Bulls with a hip injury.
Full injury report for Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
The complete injury report is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (wrist)
Questionable: Tre Jones (ankle); Coby White (rest, calf)
Probable: Jalen Smith (pectoral)
Miami Heat
Out: Tyler Herro (ankle); Nikola Jovic (hip); Andrew Wiggins (hip flexor)