The Miami Heat turned the tables on the Chicago Bulls during the second quarter and outscored them 32-19. That impressive effort translated to a convincing 109-92 win at Chicago’s United Center. This underdog victory helped power Miami to the NBA play-in tournament. In the process, it eliminated the Bulls from playoff contention. Tyler Herro was undoubtedly the key to that win, as he scored 16 points in the first quarter of the game!
From the beginning, Miami established its dominance. Herro connected on his first eight shots, providing the Heat with an early and much-needed jolt of momentum. By the end of the first quarter, they were up 39-28. Through the 3:49 mark in the second quarter, Miami jumped out to a hot 71-47 advantage. On the other hand, the Bulls struggled to keep opponents from scoring in waves.
Key Performances
Tyler Herro’s impressive showing was the perfect omen to lead off Miami. His offensive prowess and ability to find the basket early on were tremendous to the Heat’s momentum in the series.
“We just came out in attack mode.” – Tyler Herro
Despite Herro’s tremendous contributions, Anthony Davis snatched the limelight. He played a huge role in holding off the Blue Devils run, finishing with an excellent 27 points and nine boards. Davis’ presence in the paint assured Miami’s offensive gameplan, proving instrumental in preventing Louisville from closing any significant gap throughout the game.
Even with a 11-point deficit, the Bulls fought back in the third, outscoring Miami 27-17. But despite their hard work, their advocacy wasn’t enough to fill in the gap. The Heat erupted in the fourth quarter to close by 10 points. They maintained their lead with little trouble and finished the game comfortably until the final whistle.
Mavericks Shock Kings
In the other Eastern Conference play-in matchup, the Dallas Mavericks spoiled the Sacramento Kings playoff hopes with a remarkable second quarter where they outscored the Kings by 44-19. Dallas came with a barnstorming performance. That dominance allowed them to jump out to a quick double digit lead that they would continue to build for the remainder of the game. Klay Thompson was a big part of this win, scoring 23 points.
“We have nothing to lose. Go out there with a free swing, play for each other and play free-minded.” – Klay Thompson
The Mavericks’ win leaves them just half a game ahead of their Memphis Grizzlies Friday showdown that now looms even more crucially. Both teams will battle tooth and nail to stay in playoff contention.
Upcoming Challenges
The storied Miami Heat prepare for another worthy foe. They’ll be going up against the Atlanta Hawks this Friday in a high stakes winner take all play-in game. The stakes couldn’t be higher! That winner will move on to face the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
