Play-in final four battling injuries

Bulls, Heat hit hard going into East matchup tonight.

MIAMI — When injuries affect the Miami Heat, coach Erik Spoelstra almost always delivers the same threeword outlook.

“We have enough,” he says.

That theory is about to be tested — and will be a theme in the NBA’s win-or-go-home finales of the play-in tournament tonight.

All four teams — Miami and Chicago in the Eastern Conference, New Orleans and Sacramento in the Western Conference — have serious injury concerns going into their matchups to decide the No. 8 seeds on the playoffs. Miami and New Orleans have the home edge; the winners will face No. 1 Boston and No. 1 Oklahoma City in Round 1, starting Sunday.

Jimmy Butler will not be able to play for the Heat in tonight game against the Bulls because of a right knee injury, one that will sideline him for several weeks. An MRI exam Thursday showed he sprained the MCL ligament, an injury that typically takes at least four weeks or more to heal.

The Heat are bracing to be without Terry Rozier and possibly Duncan Robinson, and Chicago guard Alex Caruso sprained an ankle in the win over Atlanta.

The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson because of a hamstring injury. The Kings have been without would-be starters Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk in

■ No. 9 Chicago (3943, 1-0) at No. 8 Miami (46-36, 0-1)

■ 7 p.m., ESPN

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Split, 2-2

■ Winner plays No. 1 seed Boston in Round 1, series starting Sunday. Loser is eliminated.

Time, TV: Season series: At stake:

■ No. 9 Sacramento (46-36, 1-0) at No. 7 New Orleans (49-33, 0-1)

■

TNT

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Pelicans, 5-0 (includes one in-season tournament win)

■ Winner plays No. 1 seed Oklahoma City in Round 1, series starting Sunday. Loser is eliminated.

Time, TV: Season series: At stake:

9:30 p.m., recent weeks.

“We will do this the hard way,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going to rest up, treat up, rally around each other up and get ready for Friday and again, embrace these competitive games. It’ll be competitive in front of our home fans and we’re going to bring a hell of a game on Friday night lights and do this the hard way. That’s just the way the deal is right now.”

The Bulls-Heat game is a rematch of the East Play-In finale last year, a game where Chicago led by three with 3:47 left and got outscored 15-1 the rest of the way.

JASON GETZ/AJC 2023 UGA’s Javon Bullard is cheered by Tykee Smith (right) and other teammates after intercepting a pass against Mississippi this past season in Athens. Bullard appears likely to be drafted in the third round, while Smith is looking like a fourth-round possibility in what NFL observers are calling a weak class of safeties.