The final injury report is in for Thursday night in Chicago, and both the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls will have to navigate key absences in a game that matters for the Eastern Conference play-in race. Miami enters at 25-23, eighth in the East. Chicago sits at 23-24, 10th. The margins are thin, the updates are fresh, and the lineup chess match will be real.

Final injury report: Heat vs. Bulls, Jan. 29

Miami will be without three guards: Tyler Herro (right rib inflammation), Davion Mitchell (left shoulder sprain), and Terry Rozier (personal, not with team amid a federal gambling probe). The Heat list Norman Powell (lower back tightness) and rookie center Kel'el Ware (right hamstring strain) as probable. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been cleared after an ankle issue, and Bam Adebayo is expected to play through lower back discomfort.

For Chicago, head coach Billy Donovan confirmed that big man Zach Collins, in a walking boot with a right first toe sprain, will be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks. Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remains out for the season, and Tre Jones (left hamstring strain) is expected to be re-evaluated in about a week. Josh Giddey is listed as questionable for hamstring injury management. Jalen Smith is probable with right calf tightness and is expected to play. There were conflicting listings earlier (including a concussion note for Smith and some chatter of Giddey being out), but the final report trends toward Smith suiting up and Giddey as a true game-time call.

"If Powell suits up, Miami finally has a closer again."

Miami Heat injury report and lineup notes

Herro's rib issue has been a painful, lingering concern, and without Rozier or Mitchell, Miami's guard depth is thin. That puts added weight on Powell's status. He is Miami's current leading scorer at 20.7 points per game (3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists), and his downhill bursts and free throws often stabilize the second unit and late-game offense. If he plays, he likely absorbs heavy on-ball minutes and closing duties.

Bam Adebayo (15.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists) remains the Heat's hub. He'll be needed as a scorer and a playmaker from the elbows, especially if Miami leans into smaller lineups. Jaquez Jr. being cleared helps the wing rotation and provides cutting and secondary creation. Rookie big Kel'el Ware being probable gives Erik Spoelstra another active body at the 5, useful against Nikola Vucevic's size.

Per a report from Ira, Miami's two-way players Vlad Goldin and Jahmir Young are back with the team and available. Goldin adds size and fouls at center. Young offers spot handling and pace if Miami needs to patch minutes at guard.

• Out: Tyler Herro (rib), Davion Mitchell (shoulder), Terry Rozier (personal)
• Probable: Norman Powell (back), Kel'el Ware (hamstring); Jaime Jaquez Jr. cleared
• Expected to play: Bam Adebayo (back discomfort)
• Available two-ways: Vlad Goldin, Jahmir Young

Chicago Bulls injury status and rotation outlook

Chicago's frontcourt will be light on size without Zach Collins. Donovan confirmed Collins remains in a walking boot and will be re-evaluated in about two weeks, which keeps the load squarely on Nikola Vucevic (18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists). Vucevic's touches in the post and pick-and-pop will be central, especially if Miami switches more without its full guard crew.

Rookie scorer Matas Buzelis continues to be a bright spot at 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. With Tre Jones sidelined for at least another week and Giddey questionable, Chicago may need more secondary creation from Buzelis and the wings. The good news: Jalen Smith is probable with calf tightness and expected to go, boosting the Bulls' size and rim protection in Collins' absence.

• Out: Zach Collins (toe, re-eval ~2 weeks), Noa Essengue (shoulder, season), Tre Jones (hamstring, re-eval ~1 week)
• Questionable: Josh Giddey (hamstring management)
• Probable: Jalen Smith (calf tightness)

"No Collins means Vooch has to own the glass — no excuses."

Key stats and matchups to watch

Even with the injuries, there are fascinating head-to-heads:

• Bam Adebayo vs. Nikola Vucevic: Bam's switchability and mid-range touch against Vooch's size and craft. Whoever controls the boards can tilt pace and second-chance points.
• Norman Powell's rim pressure: If he's active, Powell's drive-and-kick game can bend Chicago's defense and open catch-and-shoot looks for Miami's wings.
• Matas Buzelis' scoring role: The rookie's 16.4 per game and smooth pull-up could be a swing factor if Giddey misses or is limited.
• Bench bigs battle: Kel'el Ware and Vlad Goldin (if used) versus Jalen Smith behind Vucevic. The energy minutes here matter, especially in the non-star stints.

Coaching voices and the urgency factor

After a recent loss to the Orlando Magic, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “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.” That message applies tonight: Miami must sustain, especially late, without several guards.

On the Bulls side, Donovan's clarity about Collins’ timeline keeps Chicago focused on next-man-up. “Collins remains in a walking boot,” Donovan said Tuesday, adding that he will be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks. Until then, Vucevic and Smith carry the interior, and Giddey’s status could shape the playmaking plan.

"This is the kind of game that decides seeding in April."

What it means for the East play-in race

Miami at 25-23 and Chicago at 23-24 are separated by only a couple of games and a handful of tiebreakers. The Heat sit eighth; the Bulls are 10th. A head-to-head win swings both the standings and the vibe: Miami needs to stop the slow starts Spoelstra flagged, and Chicago needs to prove it can rebound without Collins.

The stakes are simple and high. If Powell plays, Miami's offense becomes more direct and late-game reliable. If Giddey is active, Chicago gains a secondary ball-handler who can steady the halfcourt and feed Vucevic. If he sits, expect more touches for Buzelis and more spot usage for bench creators.

Projected impact and X-factors

• Heat X-factor: Jaime Jaquez Jr. His cutting, offensive rebounding, and mid-post game can cover for missing guards and help Bam.
• Bulls X-factor: Jalen Smith. If he controls the glass and protects the rim in Collins' absence, Chicago can hold serve against Miami's drivers.
• Free throws: With Powell and Vucevic both drawing contact, whistle control may decide crunch time.

Finally, monitor late status changes up to tip-off. The final report leans toward Powell, Ware, and Smith playing; Adebayo is set to go; Giddey is the biggest question. For Miami, two-way depth (Goldin, Young) is available if foul trouble or minutes management become issues.

Both teams know the script: protect the paint, win the glass, and find enough shot creation when the game slows. In late January, with the table set for the stretch run, these are the nights that quietly shape April.