Despite injuries and a shorthanded roster, the Chicago Bulls' relentless pace and fastbreak prowess proved too much for the Miami Heat.
Miami, FL - The Miami Heat continued their whacky schedule, facing the Chicago Bulls two more times at home after facing them on their court, securing a 116-113 victory on Thursday night. It's common to face an opponent twice in a row during an 82-game regular season, but three times certainly isn't.
They remained without All-Star guard Tyler Herro (right costochondral rib injury) and Davion Mitchell (left shoulder contusion). Also, veteran guard Norman Powell would not play due to personal reasons.
The Bulls were without several key pieces: Josh Giddey (left hamstring), All-Star center Nikola Vucevic (rest), Zach Collins (right 1st toe sprain), Coby White (right calf), Tre Jones (left hamstring), Jalen Smith (right calf tightness), and Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery; out for season).
The starting lineups:
Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis-Pelle Larsson-Myron Gardner-Andrew Wiggins-Bam Adebayo
Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu-Kevin Huerter-Isaac Okoro-Matas Buzelis-Patrick Williams
After the tip, it was a sloppy offensive start for both sides until the Bulls sparked a quick 12-0 run, scoring on fastbreak points. Despite the lack of size, it was an opportunity for the team to push the pace further. The Bulls finished the first quarter with a 31-25 advantage, recording 14 early fastbreak points, with 16 coming in the paint.
The Heat would catch up shortly after a fastbreak right-wing three-pointer made by Simone Fontecchio, which sparked a massive 15-3 run to close the gap and regain the lead. The team made three three-pointers in that two-and-a-half-minute span. After four lead changes and one time, the halftime score was 63-56, with the Heat in the driver's seat.
They matched the Bulls' early surge in the first quarter, scoring 15 fastbreak points, 14 coming from the paint.
As the third quarter rolled, the game grew tighter until the Bulls sparked a 20-6 run, which included five three-pointers made. They led heading into the fourth quarter with a 91-84 lead. The Heat made just one three-pointer out of 12 attempts throughout the 12 minutes of regulation, which came from Pelle Larsson.
The Heat attempted a final effort for a comeback, sparking an 11-6 mini run, led by Bam Adebayo, who capped it off with a three-pointer after forcing a turnover on Patrick Williams. However, the Bulls executed down the stretch after a tied score of 116 to finish victorious, with a final score of 125-118.
Ayo Dosunmu finished with a new season-high of 29 points, including five three-pointers made, eight rebounds, nine assists, and two steals in 37 minutes. Isaac Okoro followed with 20 points, three assists, a rebound, and a steal in 34 minutes.
The Bulls took advantage of their speed, finishing with 34 fastbreak points. They gave the Heat a taste of their own medicine, who finished with 25.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was one of three players on the team to at least score 20 points, along with six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block in 32 minutes, but called his four turnovers "unacceptable."
"We're trying to win a game," he said. "We didn't shoot the ball great. They [Bulls] were hitting big shots."
"As a team, we have to be better."
The Heat finished making 13 three-pointers out of 47 attempts, 27.7 percent, compared to the Bulls' 20 out of 40, 50 percent.
Both sides will face each other one final time for the regular season on Sunday, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Heat's record falls to 26-24, eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
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