The Miami Heat are en route to Boston following their impressive victory against the Chicago Bulls with a final score of 112-91 in the Eastern Conference play-in finale
The chants began in the fourth quarter as the crowd of the Miami Heat cheered, repeatedly shouting, “We want Boston.”
The fans’ wish came true, as a rematch of the last two Eastern Conference finals awaits in Round 1 this year.
Despite Jimmy Butler being sidelined for several weeks with a sprained knee, the Miami Heat have made it back to the playoffs. Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was just one assist away from a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points, and the Heat secured the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed his appreciation for the intangible things that can’t be bought but must be earned. He acknowledged that the team had to come together and work hard to earn their spot in the playoffs.
Kevin Love scored 16 points and Bam Adebayo added 13 for Miami. The Heat, who are once again the No. 8 seed, will face the highly favored Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, the Heat defied the odds as the No. 8 seed and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
“We just have to bring that Miami Heat culture and toughness,” stated Jaquez. “We have two games in Boston, and we need to set the tone early, be physical, and impose our will on them.”
Miami took control of the game with a 19-0 run in the first quarter. A 14-0 run in the second half further solidified their dominance. Herro finished the game with 10 rebounds and nine assists, and the Heat eliminated the Bulls for the second consecutive year in the East play-in game.
DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls, while Nikola Vucevic contributed 16 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. Coby White added 13 points for Chicago, who were hoping to make the playoffs after not spending a single day above the .500 mark all season.
Chicago struggled with their shooting, only making 38% of their attempts, as the Heat’s defense proved to be the difference-maker.
“These games are going to be like that,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “They’re going to be ugly and grind-out. Could we have been better in those areas? Probably. I wouldn’t say we were perfect, but I thought our guys competed.”
Miami’s 19-0 run in the first quarter, which matched their longest consecutive point streak of the season, turned the tide in their favor. Jaquez and Nikola Jovic combined for 11 points during the run, helping the Heat establish a 17-point lead after the first quarter and extend it to 20 in the second.
Despite both teams struggling offensively, Miami managed to maintain their lead with a 47-37 advantage at halftime. The Bulls went 8 for 39 from the field after starting 4 for 5, while the Heat finished the half shooting 9 for 35 after starting 8 for 9.
Chicago endured a rough stretch where they missed 14 of 15 shots, while Miami had their own struggles with 0 for 8 and 0 for 6 shooting stretches. However, the Heat’s two significant runs proved to be the difference, securing their spot as the No. 8 seed once again.
This time around, it will be much tougher for Miami as they face a Boston team that won an NBA-best 64 games this season. The Celtics will likely be seeking redemption after losing to the Heat in Game 7 of last year’s Eastern Conference finals on their home court.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in the playoffs,” said Spoelstra. “I’m grateful for this locker room and the chance to compete. I believe they feel the same way.”
News Source:APnews