Bulls, Heat are top-priced teams in Eastern playoff race

A photo finish may be in store for several teams in the NBA’s Eastern playoff race, and attending games down the stretch won’t come at a premium for some of those fan bases.

While the Bucks, Pacers, and Heat currently round out the final three playoff seeds in the conference, the Pistons, Bulls, and Hornets trail closely behind with two weeks of play remaining.

Below, ticket search engine TicketIQ takes a look at where each team stacks up in terms of resale ticket prices at home through the end of the regular season. For the best deals on all NBA tickets, make sure to download the TicketIQ app.

Bucks

The Bucks’ recent success has reinvigorated their playoff hopes, with an 8-2 record over their last 10 games catapulting them back into contention. They’ll have a competitive final two weeks at home, however, with the playoff-hopeful Hawks, Bulls, Pistons, and Hornets all set to invade Bradley Center. Bucks tickets currently average $81 across their five remaining home games, second cheapest among East playoff contenders.

This Sunday’s matchup with the Bulls will be their most expensive remaining game at a $127 average on TicketIQ. Conversely, an April 10 game with the Hornets is the Bucks’ cheapest home game at an average resale price of $66.

Pacers

Between the rumors that followed Paul George through the trade deadline and the team’s quick descent to the bottom of the playoff picture, it’s been a whirlwind season for the Pacers. With the Bucks and Heat separated by under two games, there’s little room for comfort down the stretch.

Fans can find solace in the bevy of affordable games remaining at Bankers Fieldhouse, however. Over the Pacers’ six remaining home games, tickets are averaging $52 on the resale market. That makes them the cheapest team to see in the Eastern playoff picture. The Raptors will be their top-priced opponent, on April 4 ($63 average), while the Timberwolves carry the lowest ticket demand, on March 28 ($42 average).

Heat

Clinging to the eight seed in the East are the Heat, who managed to right the ship after a dismal 11-30 start to the season. The team’s home schedule won’t do them any favors, with the Raptors, Cavaliers, and Wizards serving as three of their five remaining opponents. Those marquee matchups are posting premium resale prices, with Heat tickets at AmericanAirlines Arena averaging $132.

Perhaps expectedly, the Heat’s April 10 game with LeBron James and the Cavs is the most expensive of the five remaining in Miami, with tickets averaging $230. The Wizards head to South Beach two days later for the Heat’s cheapest home game at a $96 average.

Bulls

On the fringe of a playoff spot sit the Bulls, who find themselves 1.5 games behind the Heat following Wednesday’s win over the Pistons. They’ll get some help from a relatively light schedule at home over the next two weeks, welcoming the 76ers, Magic, and Nets. Over their five remaining games at United Center the average resale price for Bulls tickets is $176. The Bulls are the priciest East team vying for a playoff spot down the stretch.

A March 30 meeting with the Cavs is the Bulls’ top-priced home game at a $259 average. Two days later they’ll welcome the Hawks in their cheapest remaining home game at a $96 average.

Pistons

Consecutive losses to the Nets and Bulls have hurt the Pistons’ playoff hopes, and they’ll hope to get back on track against the struggling Magic and Knicks on the road this weekend. They’ll play five more games at the Palace during the regular season. Tickets across those games are averaging $76.

The Pistons welcome the Wizards to Detroit in their most expensive remaining game on April 10. That game owns a $119 average on the resale market. They’ll host the Heat for the cheapest affair on March 28, where tickets are averaging $46.

Hornets

Hope is still alive in Charlotte with the Hornets sitting three games out of the eight seed. A difficult home schedule is in store over the final two weeks of the season, however, as the Cavs, Bucks, Heat, and Celtics all head to Spectrum Center over that span. Hornets tickets in Charlotte average $96 across the team’s six remaining home games.

The Cavs head to Spectrum Center for the Hornets’ priciest home game, on March 24. Tickets to that game are averaging $214. Conversely, a March 28 game against the Bucks is the cheapest remaining game at an average price of $52.

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