Heat Defeats Bulls 109-90, Advances to Play-In Elimination Matchup Against Hawks

The Miami Heat eliminated the Chicago Bulls from the NBA Play-In Tournament with a 109-90 victory, led by Tyler Herro's standout performance of 38 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including making his first eight shots and scoring 23 points in the first half. Miami's aggressive start resulted in a 71-47 halftime lead, capitalizing on Chicago's lackluster defense and inexperience in high-pressure situations. Head coach Erik Spoelstra's strategic decision to have Bam Adebayo defend Bulls point guard Josh Giddey disrupted Chicago's offensive rhythm and contributed to their 11 first-half turnovers. The Bulls struggled offensively, shooting under 40% from the field and failing to mount a significant comeback. With this win, Miami advances to face the Atlanta Hawks for a chance to claim the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This marks the third consecutive year the Bulls have been eliminated by the Heat in the Play-In Tournament.