Miami Heat, Bulls Provide Injury Updates Ahead of Matchup

Key players' status revealed for Thursday night's game between the Heat and Bulls

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Heat announced that Norman Powell (back) and Kel'el Ware (hamstring) will both play in Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. For the Bulls, guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) will sit out, while big man Jalen Smith (calf) will be available to play.

Why it matters

Injury updates are crucial for fans and bettors to understand the potential impact on the game's outcome, as the availability of key players can significantly shift the dynamics of the matchup between the Heat and Bulls.

The details

The Heat will have Powell and Ware available, while the Bulls will be without Giddey but will have Smith in the lineup. This information is important for both teams' rotations and strategies heading into the game.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EST.

The players

Norman Powell

A guard for the Miami Heat who is available to play despite a back injury.

Kel'el Ware

A player for the Miami Heat who is available to play despite a hamstring injury.

Josh Giddey

A guard for the Chicago Bulls who will sit out the game due to a hamstring injury.

Jalen Smith

A big man for the Chicago Bulls who will be available to play despite a calf injury.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Basically all four games we've had great first halves. We just have not been able to sustain it against that team. We started out flat, it's hard to explain that.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat coach (SI.com)

What’s next

The Heat and Bulls will play each other three consecutive times, with their originally scheduled January 8 game being postponed.

The takeaway

Injury updates are crucial for fans and bettors to understand the potential impact on the game's outcome, as the availability of key players can significantly shift the dynamics of the matchup between the Heat and Bulls.