CHICAGO -- In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Miami Heat triumphed over the Chicago Bulls with a decisive 109-90 victory, successfully advancing in the NBA play-in tournament for the third consecutive season. The standout performance came from Tyler Herro, who lit up the scoreboard with an impressive 38 points, including 23 in the first half alone. Herro's shooting was remarkable as he connected on his first eight attempts, setting the tone for a game in which the Heat never trailed, even enjoying a commanding lead of up to 25 points at one stage.

With this win, Miami is set to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, furthering their quest for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks secured their play-in opportunity despite losing to the Orlando Magic in a previous game, adding an extra layer of challenge for the Heat as they aim to meet the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

The rivalry has intensified over the season, especially since the Bulls previously swept the Heat 3-0 in their regular-season matchups. This history made Miami's approach to the game particularly focused, as noted by head coach Erik Spoelstra. He expressed his team's respect for Chicago, acknowledging their unique playing style and scoring ability that had previously troubled the Heat.

Chicago humbled us this year, Spoelstra commented. They have a unique style of play, with their pace and scoring ability. We felt in control during those games, but they managed to come back with impressive fourth-quarter performances. Our guys really respected their scoring potential.

Indeed, holding the Bulls to just 90 points was no small feat, marking their lowest scoring total of the season. The Bulls struggled offensively, with Josh Giddey managing 25 points on a 9-for-21 shooting night, while Coby White could only muster 17 points on 5-for-20 shooting, including seven turnovers. The bench contributed a mere 13 points, also a season low.

They punched us first, and we didnt respond the way we had to, Giddey reflected on the game. Credit to Miami. Theyre well-coached and have experience in this situation. We knew what was at stake tonight, but we just didnt come out with the right mentality.

On the other hand, Herro's offensive versatility was a significant part of Miami's success. Not only did he hit three 3-pointers, but he also demonstrated his finishing ability with an unblemished 8-for-8 record on layups and floaters, showcasing his well-rounded game. Spoelstra praised Herros ability to create plays in unscripted moments, emphasizing how crucial it is for teammates to seize those opportunities to maximize his unique skill set.

Both teams aimed to control the game's pace; the Bulls were known to be the second-fastest team in the NBA, while the Heat ranked 27th in pace. However, Miami effectively dictated the flow of the game right from the start, leading 71-47 at halftime, which marked their largest halftime lead of the season. Chicago attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 13 points early in the fourth quarter, but Miami quickly pulled away to secure the win.

Reflecting on the past matchups, Herro noted, We felt we shouldnt have dropped those three games throughout the season. We believe we won most of the quarters we played against them, except for a couple, and they managed to win in the end.

Chicago entered the game as one of the league's hottest teams, boasting a 15-6 record since March 6. Despite this strong finish, they ended the season with a record of 39-43, mirroring their performance from the previous year and falling short against the Heat for the third year in a row. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this marks the 19th instance in NBA history where one team has eliminated another from the playoffs or play-in across three or more consecutive seasons, and it is the fifth occurrence since the 2000-01 season.

We feel were much better than the way we played tonight, Giddey lamented post-game.

As the Heat prepare to face the Hawks, they are not only seeking victory but aiming to secure their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, which would tie a franchise record. The jobs not finished; we knew what our path was, said Herro. Its going to take two wins on the road, which were capable of. We just have to maintain this focus.