Miami Heat, even without star Jimmy Butler, who will miss a few weeks with a sprained knee – advanced to the postseason. Tyler Herro notched 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 21 points, and Miami secured the last spot in the East for the playoffs after defeating the Chicago Bulls 112-91 at Kaseya Center in Miami, FL.
Let's go to the playoffs, yeah? ⚪️🔥 pic.twitter.com/xQxt7kcAu4
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 20, 2024
“I admire the things you can’t buy the most, the things that you have to earn,” Miami boss Erik Spoelstra shared after the victory.
Kevin Love finished with 16 points and Bam Adebayo notched 13 points for the Heat, which are now underdogs vs. Boston as the Cetlics is the big favorite to win the trophy. Miami is the 8th seed again, just like in the past season, whey they advanced after a play-in and reached the NBA Finals.
#HEATWin final – Miami 112, Chicago 91
🔥 Herro: 24pts (4 3s), 10rebs & 9asts
🔥 Jaquez Jr.: 21pts, 6rebs & 6asts
🔥 Love: 16pts & 7rebs
🔥 Adebayo: 13pts, 4rebs & 4asts pic.twitter.com/nkwSHgrgEJ— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 20, 2024
DeMar DeRozan notched 22 points for Chicago, Nikola Vucevic finished with 16 points, 14 boards and 5 assists.
The Heat series against the Celtics begins on Sunday in Boston.