Scoreboard
Heat 102, Bulls 91
Timberwolves 120, Thunder 95
What went down
The 2023 NBA Playoffs cast is now complete after the Heat and Timberwolves defeated their play-in foes.
Jimmy Butler delivered with 31 points but the unlikely star coming out of Miami was Max Strus who had 31 points, spiked by seven triples. The Heat’s resident sharpshooter did most of his damage in the first half by scoring 23 points.
Butler and Strus were pivotal down the stretch for the Heat who clinched the no. 8 seed. They will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
In the West, the Timberwolves nabbed the eighth seed after routing the Thunder. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Rudy Gobert, fresh from his one-game suspension, returned with a double-double outing of 21 points and 10 boards.
The Timberwolves zoned in on OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as he went 12-for-12 from the line but struggled from the field with a 5-for-19 shooting clip to finish with 22 points.
Minnesota’s first-round matchup will be against the top-seed Nuggets.
Big-time baller
Max Strus’ timely long bombs came in handy to not only save the Heat's season but to also catapult them into the playoffs. He went 8-for-16 overall, including 7-for-12 from deep.
It was a bounce-back performance for him after scoring just three points in a loss to the Hawks.
Max's 7th 3 of the night gives us a 5-point lead. LOOSE. pic.twitter.com/m2OpRmnug8
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 15, 2023
What he said
Coach Spo summed up the Heat's close win to get into the playoffs:
All those clutch games came in handy. On to the next challenge. #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/nOQQ1qhPER
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 15, 2023
Did you see that?
The league recently announced the finalists for the top individual awards of the season.
The finalists for the seven awards honoring top performers from the 2022-23 NBA regular season ?? pic.twitter.com/rHyjQ375Gf
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 14, 2023
