MIAMI — With 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Eastern Conference play-in game, Jimmy Butler scored a layup and was fouled with a cathartic scream, giving the Heat a lead over the Bulls that they would not relinquish.
A minute later, Butler made the pass that led to a 3-pointer by Max Strus, extending Miami’s lead during a decisive stretch run that helped the Heat secure the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 102-91 victory.
Butler and Strus each scored 31 points, and in the final three minutes of the contest, the Heat outscored the Bulls 15-1.
Butler stated, “My team needed me to do that.” “Find a way.”
With the triumph, the Heat earned a first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, the top overall seed in the NBA. Game 1 commences Sunday in Milwaukee.
“This week, with two games, it feels like we’re already in the second round,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “We have now earned the right to begin the playoffs.”
The Heat led by 14 points in the first quarter and by double digits in the third before the Bulls seized the lead entering the fourth. However, with five minutes remaining, the score was tied, placing the Heat in a familiar position this season.
This season, Miami played in a league-high 54 critical games and won 32 of them, while the Bulls won 15, the fewest of any of the 20 playoff-bound teams.
“Nothing new for us,” said Strus, who along with Butler became the first Heat teammates since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in 2013 to score 30 points in a playoff or play-in game. “We are accustomed to and have been in these situations all year.”
Even though Bam Adebayo shot 1-for-9 from the field and scored eight points, Butler credited him as a catalyst for the Heat’s defensive effort, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Bulls were 5-for-12 when Adebayo was in the lane, including 2-for-5 in the fourth quarter.
Adebayo stated, “I believe I had a significant impact on that game despite the fact that my shots were not falling.”
This will be the fourth postseason meeting between the Heat and Bucks; the previous three times, the winner advanced to the NBA Finals. The Bucks claimed the 2021 NBA championship after defeating the Heat in the first round, while Miami won the 2013 title after defeating the Bucks in the first round.
Butler remarked, “You’re talking about an MVP in [Giannis Antetokounmpo], all the shooting, how together they are, and how long they’ve been together.” “It will be difficult; it is. Milwaukee has tremendous supporters who are always present and vocal. Therefore, we must play nearly flawless basketball, which we are capable of doing. Play with intensity and remain united through the good and the poor. We are one, and I believe we will be fine. Let this season and the playoffs end. 0-0 and get to work.”
After a second-half surge, the Bulls’ season concludes on the verge of the postseason.
Chicago was seven games under.500 at the All-Star break but finished the season 14-9 to claim the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls trailed the Toronto Raptors by 19 points in the third quarter of Wednesday’s play-in game before surging back to advance to Friday’s game against Miami.
But the Bulls had no more comebacks left in them. Zach LaVine tallied 15 points despite shooting poorly (6-of-21) from the field. Coby White made a 3-pointer with 3:47 remaining to give the Bulls a lead of 90-87. It was the last field goal made by Chicago.
“This one hurt,” said Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, who concluded with 26 points. It stinks. That shouldn’t have been the conclusion. We provided ourselves with a chance to win a game. We had risen. We cannot repeat our errors, especially in a game of this nature. Now that we’re in our reality, we have nothing to do.”
