Chicago, Illinois – Tyler Herro showcased an impressive performance, scoring 38 points to lead the Miami Heat to a commanding 109-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament. This win secured the Heat’s advancement in the tournament for a chance to face top-seeded Cleveland in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Miami Heat started strong, with Herro contributing 23 points in the first half alone as they built a substantial 71-47 lead over the Bulls. This victory also marked the third consecutive year that the Heat have eliminated the Bulls from the play-in tournament. The Heat will now face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in hopes of securing a spot in the first round of the playoffs.
Herro’s exceptional performance included making his first eight shots and finishing the game with a 13-of-19 shooting percentage. In addition to Herro’s standout performance, Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and nine rebounds, while Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
On the other side, Josh Giddey led the Chicago Bulls with 25 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Coby White with 17 points. Despite their efforts, the Bulls fell short, missing out on the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
The game saw the Heat taking control early on, specifically in the first half when they outscored the Bulls 32-19 in the second quarter. Herro’s offensive prowess, coupled with contributions from Wiggins and Adebayo, proved too much for the Bulls to handle.
The Bulls briefly narrowed the gap to 13 points in the fourth quarter, but the Heat’s strong defense shut them down and secured the decisive victory. Herro’s dominant performance set the tone for the Heat’s success in the game, ultimately propelling them to a convincing win over the Bulls.
While the Bulls showed flashes of competitiveness, particularly towards the end of the first quarter, the Heat’s overall performance proved to be too overwhelming. With their sights set on facing Cleveland in the playoffs, the Miami Heat now await their next challenge in the postseason.