The Miami Heat crowd kept chanting “We want Boston” in the fourth quarter.
Their wish came true as they secured a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs after defeating the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament game on Friday night.
Even with Jimmy Butler sidelined due to a knee injury, Miami showed resilience. Tyler Herro scored 24 points and almost got a triple-double, while rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized the value of hard work and earning their place in the playoffs. Miami is now considered the underdog against the Celtics, who are favorites to win the NBA title.
The Heat, ranked as the No. 8 seed, have a similar path to last year when they made it to the NBA Finals. Jaquez highlighted the importance of bringing the Miami Heat culture and toughness to the upcoming games against Boston.
Miami dominated the Bulls with a 19-0 run in the first quarter and a 14-0 run in the second half, securing their victory and eliminating the Bulls from the play-in tournament for the second consecutive year.
DeMar DeRozan contributed 22 points for the Bulls, while Nikola Vucevic added 16 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. Coby White scored 13 points for Chicago, who aimed to become the fifth team in the last 35 years to make the playoffs despite not having a winning record all season.
DeRozan acknowledged the difficulty of the game, mentioning the team’s missed opportunities. The Bulls struggled with their shooting, making only 38% of their attempts, while the Heat’s defense proved effective.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan recognized the tough nature of the game, emphasizing the need for improvement despite the team’s effort.
Miami’s 19-0 run, which matched their longest streak of consecutive points this season, helped them take an early lead after trailing 11-6. Key contributions from Jaquez and Nikola Jokić during this run extended Miami’s lead to 17 points after the first quarter and 20 points in the second quarter.
