The Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls matchup is an Eastern Conference NBA rivalry with a long history of regular-season and playoff meetings. As of October 7, 2026, their first scheduled meeting of the 2026-27 season is December 14 in Chicago, with additional games scheduled for December 21 and December 23 in Miami.
Key Takeaways
- The next scheduled Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls game is December 14, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago.
- The teams are scheduled to meet three times during the 2026-27 regular season.
- Miami won three of their four regular-season meetings in 2025-26.
- The Bulls still lead the overall regular-season series, while Miami has had the stronger record in several important playoff meetings.
- The matchup has produced 170 total meetings when regular-season and postseason games are combined.
Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls: Next Game
If you searched Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls because you want to know when they play next, the answer is December 14, 2026.
The Heat are scheduled to visit the Bulls at the United Center in Chicago. The NBA lists the game for Monday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
This will be the first meeting between the teams in the 2026-27 regular season. Since the NBA season does not begin until October, there is no 2026-27 regular-season result between Miami and Chicago yet as of October 7.
That distinction matters because some search results can mix the upcoming 2026-27 matchup with games from the completed 2025-26 season.
2026-27 Heat vs Bulls Schedule
The 2026-27 NBA schedule has already been released. The NBA’s official schedule information confirms that the new season schedule is available for all 30 teams.
The currently scheduled Heat-Bulls meetings are:
| Date | Matchup | Location |
|---|---|---|
| December 14, 2026 | Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls | United Center |
| December 21, 2026 | Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat | Kaseya Center |
| December 23, 2026 | Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat | Kaseya Center |
The December 14 game is listed by the NBA at 8:00 p.m. ET. The later Miami home games are also listed on the current 2026-27 schedule information.
Miami at Chicago
The first meeting gives Chicago home-court advantage. The Bulls will host the Heat at the United Center on December 14.
Home court can matter in a matchup like this because both teams have a long history against each other, and the environment in Chicago can create a different challenge from playing in Miami.
Chicago at Miami
The next two scheduled meetings are in Miami, giving the Heat two consecutive home opportunities against Chicago later in December.
Because these games are close together on the calendar, injuries, rest, rotations, and recent form could become important factors by the time the series arrives.
Recent Heat vs Bulls Results
The most useful recent sample comes from the 2025-26 season.
Miami won three of the four regular-season meetings:
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| November 21, 2025 | Heat 143, Bulls 107 |
| January 29, 2026 | Heat 116, Bulls 113 |
| January 31, 2026 | Bulls 125, Heat 118 |
| February 1, 2026 | Heat 134, Bulls 91 |
The November meeting was especially one-sided. Miami won 143-107, with Kel’el Ware producing 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Heat also finished the game with 14 fast-break points and 14 second-chance points.
The January 29 meeting was much closer. Miami won 116-113 at Chicago after the Bulls made a late push. Ayo Dosunmu led Chicago with 23 points, while Norman Powell scored 21 for Miami and Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Two days later, Chicago answered with a 125-118 victory. Miami then closed the four-game season series by beating Chicago 134-91 on February 1.
That 43-point Miami victory was the largest margin in the 2025-26 meetings and one of the biggest wins either team has produced in the overall series.
Heat vs Bulls Head-to-Head Record
The historical numbers show how competitive this matchup has been.
Through the 2025-26 season, Basketball-Reference’s head-to-head data lists 136 regular-season meetings, with Chicago holding a 69-67 advantage. Miami has averaged 98.6 points per game in those regular-season meetings, compared with 98.2 for Chicago.
| Category | Chicago Bulls | Miami Heat |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-season wins | 69 | 67 |
| Regular-season games | 136 | 136 |
| Regular-season points per game | 98.2 | 98.6 |
| Playoff wins | 18 | 13 |
| Total playoff meetings | 31 | 31 |
The numbers show that neither franchise has completely controlled the matchup across the entire regular season. Chicago has the small edge in regular-season wins, while Miami has scored slightly more points per game over the full regular-season series.
Regular-Season History
The two teams first met in the late 1980s, and their regular-season series has remained relatively balanced over the decades.
Their history includes very different eras, from the Michael Jordan-era Bulls to Miami’s championship teams and more recent Eastern Conference battles. Because the franchises have gone through multiple roster cycles, historical head-to-head numbers should not be treated as a direct prediction of a future game.
Recent results are more useful when evaluating the current matchup.
Playoff History
The playoff history gives this matchup extra weight.
The teams have met in the postseason seven times, according to historical head-to-head data. Chicago won the first three playoff series between the franchises, while Miami won four of the next five.
The playoff meetings include:
- 1991-92: Chicago won 3-0
- 1995-96: Chicago won 3-0
- 1996-97: Chicago won 4-1
- 2005-06: Miami won 4-2
- 2006-07: Chicago won 4-0
- 2010-11: Miami won 4-1
- 2012-13: Miami won 4-1
This history is one reason the Heat-Bulls matchup remains recognizable to longtime NBA fans even when the teams are not competing at the top of the conference.
Heat vs Bulls: What Makes This Matchup Interesting?
Miami’s Recent Advantage
The most recent completed season clearly favored Miami in the regular-season series. The Heat won three of four meetings in 2025-26, including a 143-107 win and a 134-91 win.
However, those results should be viewed as historical context rather than a guarantee for 2026-27. Rosters, coaching decisions, injuries, trades, and player roles can change significantly between seasons.
Chicago’s Home-Court Factor
The December 14 meeting will take place in Chicago, which gives the Bulls home court.
That makes the first 2026-27 matchup different from the two later games scheduled in Miami. A team that performs well at home can use the crowd, familiar shooting background, and normal travel routine to its advantage.
For fans trying to judge the matchup closer to game day, the most important factors will be the current standings, injury reports, starting lineups, and recent team form.
Heat vs Bulls Quick Comparison
| Factor | Miami Heat | Chicago Bulls |
|---|---|---|
| NBA Conference | Eastern | Eastern |
| Division | Southeast | Central |
| Home arena | Kaseya Center | United Center |
| 2025-26 series | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| Regular-season all-time edge | 67 wins | 69 wins |
| First scheduled 2026-27 meeting | Away | Home |
The historical picture is close, but the recent season strongly favored Miami.
Who Has the Better Historical Record?
If the question is strictly about regular-season head-to-head wins, the Chicago Bulls have the edge, 69-67 through the 2025-26 season.
If playoff success against each other is included, Chicago also leads the playoff series record, 18-13 in individual postseason games. However, Miami has won four of the seven playoff series between the franchises.
So the simplest answer is:
Chicago has the better overall historical head-to-head record, but Miami has had the stronger recent regular-season matchup.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Miami Heat play the Chicago Bulls?
The first scheduled Heat-Bulls game of the 2026-27 regular season is December 14, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. The NBA lists the game for 8:00 p.m. ET. The teams are scheduled to meet three times during the regular season.
Who won the last Heat vs Bulls game?
The Miami Heat won the most recent completed meeting, beating the Chicago Bulls 134-91 on February 1, 2026. Miami led throughout the game and finished with a 43-point margin.
What is the all-time Heat vs Bulls record?
For regular-season games through 2025-26, Chicago leads Miami 69-67. Including playoff meetings, the teams have played 167 regular-season and playoff games, with Chicago leading the combined game record 87-80. Separate historical databases can display broader totals when additional game categories are included, so the competition type should always be checked when comparing records.
How many times do they play in 2026-27?
The current 2026-27 schedule lists three regular-season meetings between Miami and Chicago: December 14 in Chicago, followed by December 21 and December 23 in Miami.
Where do the Heat and Bulls play?
The Miami Heat play their home games at the Kaseya Center in Miami, while the Chicago Bulls play at the United Center in Chicago. The December 14, 2026 matchup is scheduled for Chicago.
Conclusion
The Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls matchup combines a close long-term regular-season history with several memorable playoff series. Chicago currently owns the regular-season head-to-head advantage, but Miami dominated the most recent 2025-26 season series by winning three of four games.
For the 2026-27 season, the first meeting is scheduled for December 14 in Chicago, followed by two games in Miami later that month.
For anyone following this matchup, the best way to judge the next game will be to combine the historical record with current-season form, injuries, lineups, and home-court advantage rather than relying only on older results.
