Heat Survive Late Scare, Edge Bulls in Chicago Thriller 116-113
For three and a half quarters, Miami looked like it was cruising. They had the rhythm, the defensive stops, and the transition buckets that define “Heat Culture.” But in the NBA, a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter is merely an invitation for chaos. And chaos is exactly what the Bulls delivered, mounting a furious comeback that turned a potential blowout into a white-knuckle finish.
Norman Powell led the way for Miami, dropping 21 points and acting as the steady hand when the offense started to sputter. But the soul of this win belonged to Bam Adebayo. The big man was everywhere, pouring in 20 points and snatching 12 rebounds, battling in the paint against a Bulls frontcourt that refused to quit. It wasn’t just the stats; it was the timing. Every time Chicago threatened to completely flip the script, Adebayo or Powell seemed to find an answer.
A Fourth Quarter Collapse Avoided
The game seemed well in hand when Miami led 104-92 with just over eight minutes remaining. The Bulls looked disjointed, and the crowd was quiet. Then, the switch flipped.
Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu, who finished with a game-high 23 points, decided he wasn’t going home without a fight. He sparked a 21-12 run that had the United Center rocking. With just over two minutes left, Dosunmu converted two layups and a crucial 3-pointer, slashing the deficit to three. Suddenly, the Heat looked rattled.
When Nikola Vucevic hit a turnaround hook shot to make it 112-109 with under a minute to play, the pressure was palpable. You could see the tension on the Miami bench. This is a team that prides itself on closing out games, yet here they were, clinging to life against a sub-.500 team.
The Final Seconds: Chaos and Relief
The final minute was a blur of free throws and frantic defense. Dosunmu and Powell traded shots from the charity stripe. Then, Coby White, who had struggled to find his rhythm all night, stepped up and calmly sank two free throws to cut the Miami lead to a single point with seven seconds on the clock. 114-113.
The Bulls needed a miracle. They didn’t get it.
Miami managed to get the ball to Pelle Larsson, who threw down a dunk with two seconds left to extend the lead back to three. It was a risky play—a miss there gives Chicago the ball with a chance to win—but it paid off. The Bulls had one last gasp, a heave from White at the buzzer to force overtime, but it clanged off the iron.
Adebayo and Powell: The Dynamic Duo
While the ending was messy, the foundation of the win was solid. The Heat needed this victory to keep pace in a crowded Eastern Conference, and their stars delivered.
Adebayo’s double-double was a masterclass in efficiency and effort. He controlled the glass and anchored a defense that, despite the late lapse, held strong when it mattered most. Meanwhile, Powell’s scoring punch provided the offensive versatility Miami desperately needs.
On the other side, you have to feel for the Bulls. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a force, tallying 19 points and 10 boards. Sophomore Matas Buzelis showed flashes of brilliance with 16 points. They fought back valiantly, but moral victories don’t show up in the standings.
Looking Ahead for the Heat
This win moves Miami to 26-23, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a guaranteed playoff spot. It wasn’t pretty, and Coach Erik Spoelstra will surely have plenty to say in the film room about that fourth-quarter execution. But in an 82-game season, you take the wins however you can get them.
The Heat don’t have time to celebrate, though. They face these same Bulls again on Saturday night, this time back in the friendly confines of South Beach. If Thursday was any indication, we’re in for another battle. The Bulls will be hungry for revenge, and Miami will need to prove they can close the door without slamming their fingers in it.
For now, the Heat escape Chicago with a ‘W’. It was tense, it was emotional, and it was barely enough. But sometimes, barely enough is all you need.
