Less than a week ago, the Chicago Bulls’ Thursday night clash against the Miami Heat was postponed due to unsafe court conditions. Heavy rain and high humidity caused excessive condensation, prompting the NBA to call off the game.
It was quickly announced that the game would be made up at a later date, with tickets from the January 8 affair valid for the rescheduled contest. Fast forward to January 12, and the Bulls announced the make-up game will be played on January 29.
While it seemed simple enough, the rescheduled date proved borderline absurd. The Bulls were already slated to face the Heat in two consecutive road games on January 30 and February 1—an unusual scheduling twist on its own.
Bulls and Heat set for rare three-game stretch
Now, Chicago and Miami will square off three times in a row. First in Chicago on January 29, followed by a back-to-back in Miami on January 31 and February 1. The triple-header marks an unprecedented event, as the Bulls have never played an opponent three consecutive times in the franchise’s 59-year history.
This will be the first time in Bulls history that they will play the same opponent in three straight games in a single regular season. https://t.co/xSPaWSrw44
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) January 12, 2026
Furthermore, Chicago will now play four games (three on the road) in five nights and nine games in 15 days leading up to the All-Star break. The Bulls now face a jam-packed schedule ahead—one that could make or break their season.
Back to the triple-header against Miami, the matchup carries added weight due to the teams’ unofficial rivalry. Despite holding a winning regular-season record against the Heat since the start of the 2022–23 campaign, the Bulls have been eliminated by Miami in the Play-In Tournament in each of the past three seasons. During that span, Miami is just 3–8 against the Bulls in the regular season, but they have won when it mattered most.
One of those three wins came earlier this season, when the Heat hung 143 points on the Bulls in a lopsided 36-point victory in November. It was tied for the most points Chicago has allowed in a regulation loss this season, and marked the team’s worst defeat of the year.
There is plenty riding on the Bulls’ play leading up to the trade deadline, with the stakes now higher than ever. On the positive side, Josh Giddey appears close to returning after suffering a hamstring injury ahead of the New Year, leaving Zach Collins as the lone Bull without a timeline for his return.