Tyler Herro rebounded from a poor shooting night as the Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat eliminated the Chicago Bulls for the second straight season, 112-91, to claim the final East playoff spot.
OFFICIALLY PLAYOFF BOUND 🎟?
The @MiamiHeat take down the Bulls to clinch the #8 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/6CvUyinpMT
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 20, 2024
The Heat now face the Boston Celtics in the opening round, a rematch of the 2023 East Finals that was an instant classic and went to the full seven games.
Herro registered a near triple double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, doing it all in a do-or-die game.
Tyler Herro got BUSY in the @MiamiHEAT's W to clinch the East's #8 seed setting up an ECF rematch with Boston in Round 1 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
24 PTS | 10 REB | 9 AST | 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/y1gzCR2wf8
Just two days ago, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year awardee had 25 markers in a horrendous 9/25 shooting from the field in Miami’s loss to Philadelphia.
This time, Herro started aggressive, already posting a 6-5-5 statline by the end of the opening frame.
Tyler Herro came READY TO PLAY in the #SoFiPlayIn...
6 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST in the 1Q 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2024
Miami jumps out to a 32-15 lead on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qcQIoAOUYK
Trailing 11-6 in the the first quarter, Miami launched a 19-0 blitz to turn the tides for a 25-11 lead. The Heat ended that quarter holding a 34-17 lead and never looked back.
Miami extends their run to 19-0 with under 5 minutes to go in the 1st quarter on ESPN! https://t.co/HFbPwa8aFl pic.twitter.com/jQD0pWBF4M
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2024
Rookie Jamie Jaquez Jr. came up with a solid night of 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists, including this nasty slam in the fourth frame.
The fan reaction of Jaime's slam is so accurate.
Q3 underway on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/zQbQRZl24G
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 20, 2024
DeMar DeRozan led the way for the Bulls with 22 points, but it wasn't enough for the Bulls to capitalize on the absence of Butler.
DeMar DeRozan leading the way as the Bulls go on a 9-0 run in the #SoFiPlayIn!
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2024
CHI-MIA 2Q action on ESPN pic.twitter.com/jtsETaUIyM
Nikola Vucevic had a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds while Coby White, who exploded for a career-high 42 points in Chicago’s win over Atlanta on Thursday, only had 10.
DeRozan had 12 points alone in the second frame for a 15-point first half , but only scored seven points in the second half. The Bulls simply had no answer for Herro and found themselves playing catch-up the rest of the way.
For the second straight season, Chicago’s journey was ended by the Heat and another season came to close without a playoff berth.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round matchup between the top seed Boston Celtics and the eighth seed Miami Heat will take place on Monday, April 22, at 1 a.m. It will be aired live on Setanta Sport and via the NBA League Pass.
