The Miami Heat delivered a commanding statement on Wednesday night, dismantling the Chicago Bulls 109-90 in a ruthless Play-In performance that sent shockwaves through the Eastern Conference. Tyler Herro was in sizzling form, erupting for 38 points to carry the Heat into the next stage of the Play-In Tournament — and one step closer to a full postseason berth.
With the win, Miami set up a Friday night showdown against the Atlanta Hawks for the right to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. But before looking ahead, the Heat will relish this redemption. After being swept 3-0 by the Bulls during the regular season, Erik Spoelstra’s side flipped the script when it mattered most.
Heat Too Hot to Handle
From the opening tip, Miami looked like a team on a mission. Herro lit up the United Center, draining his first eight shots and tallying 23 of his 38 points by halftime. The Heat blazed their way to a 71-47 lead at the break — a margin that proved too much for the sluggish Bulls to overcome.
Herro’s shot selection was clinical, finishing 13 of 19 from the floor, and showing once again why he’s become one of Miami’s most reliable scorers. Backed by a strong supporting cast, he orchestrated a fast-paced, unrelenting first half that sapped the confidence from a disorganised Chicago defence.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and nine rebounds in what may have been his most complete performance in a Heat jersey. Bam Adebayo, ever the anchor in the paint, recorded a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. Davion Mitchell contributed with 15 points and nine assists, as Miami finished with 10 steals and seven blocks — defensive intensity that ensured the Bulls never settled into any rhythm.
After an erratic regular season, where Miami navigated a post-Butler identity shift and a dismal 10-game losing skid in March, the victory represents a resounding return to form. The Heat have now won nine of their last 13 games, and Spoelstra believes the belief within the squad is starting to pay dividends.
Bulls Burn Out Again
For the Chicago Bulls, it’s another season ending in disappointment — and another year of failing to emerge from the Play-In. They have now been eliminated at this stage by the Heat in three consecutive seasons.
Coming into this matchup as the ninth seed with a 39-43 record, Chicago had the advantage of a perfect 3-0 head-to-head record over Miami in the regular season. But injuries, fatigue, and a lack of in-game discipline proved fatal.
Josh Giddey was one of the few bright sparks, posting 25 points and 10 rebounds. However, even his efforts were dwarfed by Herro’s brilliance. Coby White added 17 points but struggled mightily with efficiency, going just 5-of-20 from the floor. Nikola Vucevic registered a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, but it all felt cosmetic against the tide of Heat pressure.
The Bulls briefly trimmed the deficit to 13 early in the fourth quarter, but the Heat responded with authority. Miami closed the door with crisp ball movement and timely scoring from Adebayo and Wiggins, extinguishing any hopes of a late comeback.
Betting Tips Review – What Hit and What Nearly Did
From a betting perspective, the matchup proved fruitful for those who backed form players and the Miami win:
✅ Miami Heat to win – Correct
✅ Tyler Herro over 23.5 points – Smashed it with 38
✅ Bam Adebayo double-double – Delivered with 15 points and 12 rebounds
✅ Miami Heat over 110.5 points – Just shy at 109, but very close
❌ Josh Giddey over 8.5 rebounds – Landed with 10
❌ Game to go to overtime – No – Correct
❌ Jaime Jaquez Jr. over 12.5 points – Did not feature significantly
✅ Heat to win by 6-10 points – Miami won by 19, over the bracket
✅ Total points over 216.5 – Missed, total was 199
All told, several of our America Bet tips were spot on, particularly those centred on Herro’s scoring and the Heat securing the win. The game did fall short of expectations on total points, but Miami’s sheer dominance meant several prop bets, especially on player performance, paid off nicely.
With their place in Friday’s decider now confirmed, the Heat turn their attention to Atlanta — a team that will be desperate to redeem itself after losing to Orlando earlier in the week. A victory there would not only validate the late-season transformation Miami has undergone but also hand them a daunting first-round clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Still, if Herro continues to shoot the lights out and the team maintains this level of defensive grit, Miami might yet prove a post-season wild card. Wednesday night was just a glimpse of what this team can still achieve.
