Heat Respond with Authority, Blow Out Bulls in Statement Win
After a tough loss just two nights prior, the Miami Heat didn’t just bounce back-they came out swinging and never let up. In their third matchup with the Chicago Bulls in four nights, Miami flipped the script in emphatic fashion, delivering a 134-91 beatdown that showcased sharp execution, relentless defense, and a whole lot of ball movement.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a win. It was a full-on response. The kind of game that reminds you what this Heat team is capable of when they’re locked in.
A New Game, A New Energy
Coming off Saturday’s 125-118 loss-where the Bulls torched Miami for 34 fastbreak points and shot 50% from deep-the Heat had every reason to come out with a chip on their shoulder. And that’s exactly what they did.
Miami opened the game with a 24-6 blitz, knocking down four triples in the early minutes and suffocating the Bulls on the defensive end. Chicago couldn’t buy a bucket, shooting just 20% from the field in the first quarter while coughing up seven turnovers. Those giveaways turned into 14 easy points for the Heat, who raced out to a 34-13 lead after one.
It was a complete reversal from Saturday’s loss. The Heat weren’t just reacting-they were dictating.
Missing Pieces, No Problem
Miami was down a few key names-Tyler Herro (rib), Norman Powell (personal), and Nikola Jovic (hip)-but they got a boost with the return of Davion Mitchell, who had missed the last six games with a shoulder sprain. Mitchell didn’t waste the opportunity, putting together a strong all-around performance in his return: 13 points, three triples, six assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a team-best +34 in just 21 minutes.
The Bulls, on the other hand, were missing several rotation players, including Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones. They did get All-Star center Nikola Vucevic back from a rest day, but his presence wasn’t nearly enough to swing the momentum.
Dominance in the Details
By halftime, the Heat had built a 62-40 lead, powered by 32 points in the paint and a defense that refused to let up. Unlike Saturday night, Miami took full advantage of Chicago’s lack of interior size, attacking the rim with purpose and controlling the boards.
And then came the second half, where the Heat didn’t just maintain their lead-they blew the doors off. The final score?
134-91. A 43-point win.
But the real story was the 44 assists-a new franchise record-that highlighted just how in-sync this group was offensively.
This wasn’t iso-ball or one-man heroics. This was team basketball at its finest.
Standout Performances
Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson led the way with 20 points apiece, both shooting an efficient 72.7% from the field. Adebayo anchored the defense and set the tone physically, while Larsson continued to show why he’s becoming a trusted scoring option in this system.
Kel’el Ware, who saw limited minutes in Saturday’s loss, made the most of his time this time around. The 21-year-old big man dropped 17 points, grabbed six boards, and added an assist in just 18 minutes of action. Head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t wait for a question to praise Ware postgame.
“I was encouraged by his defensive activity,” Spoelstra said. “He’s part of that young gun crew.
Offensively, he moved the ball when he needed to, gave us vertical spacing when he needed to, shot the three when he needed to. Those things, I think we can build on.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Spoelstra sees something in Ware-and it showed.
What’s Next
With the win, the Heat move to 27-24 on the season, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. They’ll face the Atlanta Hawks next, a team they’ve seen before but one that looked a little different when Trae Young was still in the mix.
But if this version of the Heat shows up again-sharing the ball, locking in on defense, and playing with this kind of purpose-they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.
This was more than a bounce-back win. It was a reminder that when Miami plays Heat basketball, they can hang with-and blow out-just about anyone.