Miami Heat dominated the Bulls 109-90 Wednesday in the play-in tournament, advancing for a third straight year as Tyler Herro scored 38 points.
Herro hit his first eight shots and went 8-for-8 on layups and floaters, leading a Miami team that never trailed and led by 25.
The Bulls had swept Miami in the regular season, which coach Erik Spoelstra said earned them “a lot of respect” and fueled the Heat's intensity.
“Chicago humbled us this year,” Spoelstra said, praising the Bulls' scoring ability and calling the Heat's effort to hold them to 90 “not an easy task.”
The 90 points were Chicago's lowest output this season, with the offense sputtering across the board and the bench totaling just 13 points.
Josh Giddey, who scored 25 on 9-of-21 shooting, said, “They punched us first, and we didn't respond the way we had to.”
Coby White added 17 points but shot 5-for-20 with seven turnovers as the Bulls, 15-6 since March 6, finished 39-43 for a second straight year.
Spoelstra credited Herro's off-ball movement and IQ, saying, “He's making a lot of those plays in between that are unscripted.”
Miami led by 24 at halftime and, despite the Bulls cutting the lead to 13 in the fourth, never lost control of the tempo.
The Heat will now face the Hawks on Friday for the East's final playoff spot and a chance to meet top-seeded Cleveland in Round 1.
Miami's made the playoffs five straight seasons, but Herro says that the “job's not finished... it's going to take two wins on the road.”
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Herro Drops 38 As Heat Eliminate Bulls In Play-In