Colby White exploded for a career-high 42 points as the Chicago Bulls lived to fight for another day thanks to a 131-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks in their win-or-go-home Play-In Tournament showdown.
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
CHI advances in the #SoFiPlayIn to face MIA on Friday for the #8 seed in the East 🍿 pic.twitter.com/u8TIGuxzlA
White had 28 points already in three quarters, and added 14 more in the final frame as the Bulls extended their season--at least for now--and will face a familiar foe in Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat for the final East playoff spot.
COBY WHITE 40-PIECE ??
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
CHI leads ATL on ESPN in the 4th quarter... winner faces MIA for the #8 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/8iCttyp4tG
Holding a 88-85 lead with 5:15 seconds left in the third, Chicago broke the game wide open again with a 17-2 run, capped off by a White lay for a huge 105-87 advantage.
18-2 BULLS RUN 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
Coby White (28 PTS) puts the Bulls ahead 105-87 in the 3rd quarter on ESPN!
The winner of ATL-CHI faces MIA for the #8 seed in the East 🍿 pic.twitter.com/6eIIcBDaO3
The Bulls never looked back from that point en route to handing the Hawks their first Play-In Tournament loss in four tries.
DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic added 22 markers while Ayo Dosunmu chipped 19.
White broke his previous career-high of 37 points in Chicago's win over Sacramento last month. The win gave the Bulls a chance to avenge last year’s loss to the Heat with the same stakes on the line in the same building.
Miami beat Chicago in the 2023 Play-In edition to clinch the East no. 8 seed and went on to the NBA Finals before succumbing to the Denver Nuggets.
A hot start from Derozan paved the way for the Bulls, who held a 40-22 by the end of the opening frame.
Deebo letting it fly from distance.@DeMar_DeRozan | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/D7WjoXNObz
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 18, 2024
Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray had 30 points, seven rebounds, and six assists to lead the way for Atlanta while Trae Young and Clint Capela had 22 apiece.
The Hawks seemed to never duplicate or surpass that surprising 2021 playoff run that saw them reach the East Finals before losing to the eventual champs Milwaukee Bucks.
Since then, they had two first round exits in 2022 and 2023 and this time, did not even qualify for the postseason this season.
After a horrible start, Murray and the Hawks responded with a 14-0 blitz to start the second half and trim the deficit to four points, 40-36.
Dejounte Murray (19 PTS) is on 🔥
14-0 run for ATL to begin the 2nd quarter!
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
ATL-CHI on ESPN... winner faces MIA for the #8 seed 🍿 pic.twitter.com/EB7VJolaKl
Atlanta kept it close at the half up until the midway point of the third before collapsing on the road.
The Chicago Bulls will battle the Miami Heat for the final playoff spot in the East on Saturday, April 20, 7 a.m. on NBA TV Philippines.
