The Miami Heat narrowly edged out the Chicago Bulls, securing a 116-113 victory at the United Center on Thursday night. The win showcased strong performances from Miami’s Norman Powell, who led the team with 21 points, and Bam Adebayo, who contributed significantly with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Ayo Dosunmu was a standout for the Bulls, scoring 23 points and leading a late-game surge that brought Chicago back into contention. Despite trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter and facing a 104-92 deficit with just over eight minutes left, the Bulls rallied, outscoring the Heat 21-12 in the final stretch.
With just over two minutes remaining and Chicago behind 110-100, Dosunmu ignited the comeback with two layups followed by a crucial 3-pointer, bringing the Bulls within three points. Powell responded with a layup for Miami, but Nikola Vucevic made a turnaround hook shot, pulling the Bulls to a 112-109 scoreline with 54 seconds remaining.
Both Dosunmu and Powell converted their free-throw opportunities, before Coby White was fouled by Pelle Larsson. White made both his free throws, cutting the deficit to just one point with seven seconds left. However, Larsson dunked two seconds later to extend Miami’s lead to three, and White’s attempt to tie the game with a 3-pointer fell short, sealing the fate of the game in favor of the Heat.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. offered strong support for Miami with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Other notable performances came from Larsson, who scored 15 points, while for the Bulls, Vucevic finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, joined by Matas Buzelis with 16 points, Kevin Huerter with 15, and White with 14.
Both teams are set to face off again for the second matchup in their series, with the next game scheduled for Saturday night in Miami. The competitive spirit displayed during this game sets the stage for another exciting encounter, as teams continue to vie for position as the season progresses.