The Chicago Bulls’ postseason hopes took a hit Wednesday night as they fell 109-90 to the Miami Heat in the NBA Play-In Tournament at the United Center. Despite a 3-0 sweep of the Heat during the regular season, the Bulls couldn’t find the same spark in this high-stakes matchup.
Miami came out with purpose, opening the game on a 15-5 run that set the tone for the night. The Heat built a 17-point advantage in the first quarter and never looked back. By halftime, Chicago trailed 71-47 and struggled to close the gap, despite a push in the third quarter that briefly trimmed the deficit to 14. The Bulls managed just 16 points in the final frame, unable to mount a late comeback.
Herro Ignites Heat Offense
Tyler Herro delivered a standout performance for Miami, pouring in 38 points, including 16 in the opening quarter. His offensive outburst gave the Heat the early cushion they needed and kept Chicago on its heels. Bam Adebayo added a solid double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell chipped in with nine assists to guide the Heat’s offense.
Giddey, Vučević Lead the Bulls
Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a strong all-around performance. The second-year Bull continues to impress, having averaged career highs across the board this season. Nikola Vučević tallied 16 points and 12 boards, marking his fourth career double-double in Play-In action—tied for second-most in tournament history.
Coby White contributed 17 points and became Chicago’s all-time leading scorer in Play-In Tournament games, surpassing DeMar DeRozan’s previous mark. White also added five assists and drained three shots from beyond the arc. Kevin Huerter rounded out the scoring effort with 10 points and two steals.
By the Numbers
The Bulls shot 82.4% from the free-throw line (14-for-17), continuing their strong season at the stripe, where they ranked fourth in the league. Chicago hit 10 three-pointers on the night, continuing a season-long trend that saw them connect on 10 or more threes in 79 games—the second-highest total in the NBA this year.
Inside, the Bulls managed 40 points in the paint, extending a streak of 30 games with 40+ paint points dating back to February. On defense, they limited Miami to just 63.6% from the free-throw line—something they did successfully against several opponents during the season.
Season and Play-In Context
Wednesday’s defeat drops the Bulls to 2-3 all-time in NBA Play-In Tournament games. While they had handled Miami in the regular season, the playoff intensity told a different story.
With elimination looming, Chicago will need to regroup quickly if they hope to keep their postseason alive. Meanwhile, Miami moves forward with momentum, having avenged their regular-season struggles against the Bulls in emphatic fashion.
(PHOTOS BY MARCUS ROBINSON)
(information courtesy of Bulls PR)