After dropping a tough one to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the Miami Heat bounced back in a big way Thursday night, edging out the Chicago Bulls 116-113 in a gritty, back-and-forth battle. Now, with another home-and-home set against those same Bulls on tap for Saturday and Sunday, Miami is eyeing a chance to build some momentum - but they’ll have to do it shorthanded once again.
Tyler Herro remains out, marking his ninth straight missed game. Saturday will be his 39th absence of the season, a frustrating stretch for a player expected to be a key piece of Miami’s offensive engine. The injuries have been varied, but the result has been the same: Miami’s had to learn how to win without one of its most dynamic scorers.
Add Norman Powell to the unavailable list this weekend. The veteran guard, who led the team with 21 points in Thursday’s win over Chicago and currently paces the squad with a 23-point scoring average, is set to miss Saturday’s game due to personal reasons. It’ll be just his sixth missed game of the season, but his absence is a significant blow for a Heat team that’s leaned on his scoring punch in recent weeks.
Davion Mitchell is also unlikely to suit up. He’s listed as doubtful with a left shoulder sprain - the same injury that’s kept him out of eight of Miami’s last 10 games.
Mitchell has been a steady hand in the starting lineup, running the offense and averaging 7.2 assists per game. His playmaking has helped stabilize Miami’s attack, and without him, the Heat have had to get creative with their ball movement and rotations.
Despite the revolving door of injuries and the swirl of trade rumors surrounding the franchise, head coach Erik Spoelstra is keeping the focus on the court. And after Thursday’s win, he had plenty of praise for the group that suited up and stepped up.
“You could see the activity, the intent defensively,” Spoelstra said postgame. “We have great respect for Chicago, how quickly they can put points on the board - that kind of set the tone for the game.
And then, the second half, it was just back and forth. We never were able to get the lead to 15; every time we got it to double digits, they would chip away at it.
But considering everything, it was a heck of a win.”
That kind of gritty, resilient performance is exactly what the Heat need to string together as they try to climb the Eastern Conference ladder. At 26-23, they sit eighth in the standings heading into the weekend. Not where they want to be, but very much in the mix - and still within striking distance of a top-six seed if they can find some consistency.
That’s been the challenge all season: staying healthy, staying connected, and staying focused amid the noise. Saturday and Sunday’s back-to-back against the Bulls is another test of that resolve. If Thursday’s win was any indication, the Heat aren’t backing down.