Bulls vs. Heat: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Chicago Bulls (39-23) play against the Miami Heat (21-21) at FTX Arena

Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on Monday February 28, 2022

Chicago Bulls 99, Miami Heat 112 (Final)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Tyler Herro talks about Bam Adebayo coming over for the block the other night after he got beat out of nowhere
“I was like appreciate that,” then laughs – 10:33 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
I asked Tyler Herro about getting to the line and embracing contact, and what has clicked recently:
“Being stronger, even if it doesn’t look like it.”
Mentions getting into guys bodies on drives, and being around guys like Jimmy and Bam helps that – 10:32 PM Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
This Ja Morant Grizzlies team feels so similar to the 2010-11 Bulls.
Good news for them?
They won’t run until prime LeBron, prime D-Wade and prime Bosh in a playoff series.
In this league at this particular time, they absolutely have enough.
Likely? No. Reasonable? Yes. – 10:29 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Gabe Vincent on Bam Adebayo’s incredible recovery block, while sitting next to Bam Adebayo:
“As he should. Defensive player of the year.” – 10:27 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Gabe Vincent:
“Kyle’s been huge for me. I used to study his film before he got here.”
“He’s been huge in my development and keeping my head on straight.” – 10:24 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Erik Spoelstra on Bam Adebayo defensively:
“There aren’t many guys in the league who can do what he does.” – 10:23 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Your Monday night East…three blowouts
Miami easy over Chicago
Toronto by 36 in Brooklyn
Milwaukee knocks Charlotte down to 10th
Cleveland comes from 23 down, but beaten by Minnesota on a late KAT 3
Tuesday: Atlanta at BOSTON, Brooklyn at Toronto
The NBA East starting March.. pic.twitter.com/JVSiyAZItz – 10:19 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
DeMar DeRozan: Sometimes you need adversity to really see what you’re made of and understand what you need to win in this league. – 10:10 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
#HEATWin final – Miami 112, Chicago 99
🔥 Herro: 20pts, 6rebs & 5asts
🔥 Vincent: 20pts (4 3s) & 3asts
🔥 Adebayo: 15pts (6-8 FG), 7rebs, 5asts & 2blks
🔥 Butler: 15pts, 7rebs & 4stls
🔥 Strus: 13pts (3 3s) pic.twitter.com/l4i7Q9chZ4 – 10:05 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Heat are 41-21. The last five Heat teams to be 41-21 or better …
2005-06: Won NBA title
2010-11: Made NBA Finals
2011-12: Won NBA title
2012-13: Won NBA title
2013-14: Made NBA Finals – 9:56 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Brutal visit to Miami ends in a 112-99 loss for the Bulls.
DeRozan: 43.8% shooting, 18 points
Vooch: 50% shooting, 14 points, 7 rebounds
LaVine: 50% shooting, 22 points
The bench combines for only 23 points. – 9:53 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Final: Heat 112, Bulls 99
Loss drops Bulls to 39-23 on season and 2 back of MIA for East’s top spot
Miami also clinches season series over Bulls, moving to 3-0 in head-to-head – 9:53 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Heat 112, Bulls 99
LaVine 22 pts
DeRozan 18 pts, 7 rebs (streak of 10 straight 30-point games ends)
Vincent 20 pts
Herro 20 pts
Adebayo 15 pts, 7 rebs, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Butler 15 pts, 7 rebs, 4 steals – 9:51 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
This is going to be DeRozan’s lowest-scoring game since he had 17 against Golden State on Jan. 14. He has 18 tonight as #Bulls are running out the clock in a bad loss. The 10-game run of at least 30 pts will end. – 9:47 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
That play from Max Strus is something they show to guys in training camp
Turnover to that block
Are you kidding??? – 9:45 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Can I just say, if Max Strus is coming to set a screen, just know it’s a ghost screen
I don’t mean to give up their plan but…lol – 9:35 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
One of the most crucial developments:
We’ve seen Tyler Herro be that Gabe/Max type who can be that igniter
But tonight, he’s the steady hand
Climbing that ladder and leaving the spark scoring for the others is massive – 9:31 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Tristan Thompson and Dewayne Dedmon both receive technical fouls after some pushing and shoving under the basket. – 9:29 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
This Heat defense is going to make it tough for any star that walks in the building come playoff time
Combining a plan to throw multiple bodies at you and the cleanest of defensive rotations we’ve seen:
They will make you work no matter what – 9:26 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
End of third quarter: Heat 91-67. Miami won the third quarter 36-21 and is 12 minutes away from improving to 3-0 vs. Chicago this season. – 9:25 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat take 91-67 lead into fourth on Bulls. Adebayo with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. But this is about more than the numbers. It’s about the domination. – 9:24 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Tyler Herro just chucked a pass full-court to Jimmy Butler, who somehow beat two Bulls defenders for it in the paint to dump off to Caleb Martin for an open bucket.
Getting Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball back isn’t going to fix these defensive lapses overnight. – 9:23 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
From committing a 5-second violation out of a timeout to getting beat downcourt after misses, Bulls have had plenty of self-inflicted wounds tonight. Can’t have those against any team, much less one of Heat’s stature. – 9:22 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Alright, I’ll admit it … you guys are right. If Caruso, Ball and PWill were out here this would be a 15-point ass-whooping right now rather than 22. You win. – 9:18 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
PJ Tucker attempted to use a Chicago Bulls towel during those free throws. Tristan Thompson pulled it away from him mid-wipe. Then the two started some (I think) light-hearted chirping. – 9:16 PM Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Jimmy Butler had attempted only 80 3-pointers coming into tonight, making only 16…and Derrick Jones Jr. just fouled him on a 3-point attempt. Kind of sums up the kind of night this has been for the Bulls. – 9:15 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
#Bulls have been having such a tough time dealing with screens lately. They got pick-and-rolled to death by Steven Adams on Sat. Tonight, they’ve been trailing guys through screens and it’s not working. – 9:12 PM Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Spurs trail 68-58 at the break after Morant soaked them for 29 points. He hung 41 on them in the last meeting and is coming off a 46-point performance in Chicago two days ago.
Morant has scored 44-plus in two of his last 3 games. – 9:09 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
One of my favorite sets from Miami:
Bam Adebayo at the top
Duncan Robinson down screen for Jimmy Butler
Easy lob to Jimmy
If not, DHO to Duncan
If that’s blitzed, Bam drive – 9:09 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Btw, just so we’re all straight:
Gabe Vincent gives DeMar a pump fake, steps through for the and-1
Goes to the other end, jams up DeMar on the help for a steal
Runs the break for a transition corner three
Like what lol – 9:00 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
If the Bulls can come back and win it will be their first win of the season against a team with a .615 winning percentage or higher. Came in 0-10 against such teams this season. No pressure. – 8:55 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
It was a victory for #Bulls to trim a 19-point deficit sown to 6, but they trail 55-46 at halftime. They’re starting to adjust to Miami’s hyper-hustle style, but won;’ beat anybody shooting 1 for 13 from 3. DeRozan leads with 13 pts – 8:42 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
The Heat dominated the start of that one to a 55-46 lead. Adebayo proving an indomitable force down low.
The Bulls have figured things out in stretches — shoring up TO’s, sparking that 14-2 run in the second quarter — but it’s another inconsistent start against a top opponent. – 8:42 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Let’s see if the Bulls can come out the third with a bit more urgency and play harder. It would be nice if they understood the moment a bit more. – 8:41 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Halftime: Heat 55, Bulls 46. Gabe Vincent with 14 points. Bam Adebayo with 11 points. Jimmy Butler with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Bulls shooting 1 of 13 on threes. – 8:41 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
After committing 8 TOs in 1st quarter, Bulls have just 1 in 2nd quarter. Big reason they trimmed a 19-point deficit to as low as 6. – 8:38 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Bam Adebayo is guarding Coby White in a pick and roll
Coby White throws a lob to the rolling big
Bam Adebayo spins and blocks the rolling Nikola Vucevic
That isn’t normal – 8:27 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Special stuff from Adebayo there. Switched onto Coby White and recovered in time to block Vucevic’s alley-oop attempt. Then blocked Vucevic’s jumper off the inbounds. – 8:27 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Vooch with a sprinting, soaring slam in transition to clean up a ricocheting 3-pointer from LaVine.
The Bulls were able to push the pace for a quick surge, something Zach said he sees as a key way to shake off oppressive defenses. Half-court offense just isn’t holding up. – 8:27 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Gabe Vincent had 13 points and is 3-5 from 3-point range midway through second quarter
Vincent, remember, had a 16-point (four 3-pointer) 4th quarter vs. Bulls in Chicago on Nov. 27. Approaching Bulls killer status? – 8:23 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Neither team were hitting 3-pointers to start this one, but the Heat have turned on the faucet with a swiftness.
Miami currently 3-for-6 from behind the arc in the second quarter. The Bulls are 1-for-10 on the night. – 8:21 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat’s defense forced eight Bulls turnovers in the first quarter. When the Bulls have gotten a shot off, they are shooting 50%. That’s the difference in the game. – 8:12 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Heat up 30-21
Defense looking strong
Don’t feel like the offense has been great, yet they put up 30
A Herro 2nd quarter is needed – 8:12 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
The Heat wreaked havoc through that opening quarter to grab a 30-21 lead. DeRozan getting smothered with double teams. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo making things difficult on both sides of the court. – 8:12 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
End of first quarter: Heat 30, Bulls 21. Heat lead by as many as 14 points in the period. Jimmy Butler already with four steals and Bulls already with eight turnovers. – 8:11 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Jimmy Butler has 4 steals, Bam Adebayo is switching everything and wreaking havoc to the tune of 8 Bulls’ TOs and Heat lead 30-21 after 1. – 8:10 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat now with essentially five bench players in the game, with Vincent, Herro, Strus, Martin and Dedmon on the court. Of course, Vincent is starting for Lowry tonight. – 8:09 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Completely disjointed start for the Bulls, who just coughed up a five-second violation coming out of a timeout.
Heat lead 25-11. Jimmy Butler leads with 7 points and 4 steals. – 8:04 PM Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Not sure how many times I’ve seen a first-quarter, 5-second violation…out of a timeout. But the Bulls just pulled it off, one of their eight (and counting) first-quarter turnovers. – 8:04 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
This Chicago team over-helps so much
Heat have done a good job noticing it early with Jimmy
Gotta keep that up though when he exits – 8:04 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
It’s one thing to fall behind early when a team hits a bunch of 3s. But #Bulls are getting it stolen on one end, then giving up layups on the other. Heat leads 24-11. – 7:59 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
The Bulls started today with better news — Alex Caruso returning to the court for practice.
Likely “a couple more weeks” until the next step, but a positive step for Caruso to spend his birthday out of his wrist splint with a ball in his hands: chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/c… – 7:58 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler attracting 2-3 bodies on every attack
PJ not just sitting and watching
Cuts with him and gets the dunk – 7:56 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Turnovers an early concern for the Bulls here. Four turnovers, five made baskets with an early 16-10 lead for the Heat. – 7:50 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Miami has the DeRozan-Vucevic PnR mapped out
Bam and PJ switch
PJ denies
Jimmy lurks
Right there, Jimmy with the weak-side rotation and steal – 7:49 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Miami obviously switching everything, but a ton of interior denial going on
Gabe Vincent being able to guard bigger guys on post-ups is so big – 7:48 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat opting to start with Tucker on DeRozan and Butler on LaVine. Bulls seeking out PnR switches early to get Vucevic going. – 7:47 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Gabe Vincent again stepping in for Kyle Lowry in Heat starting lineup tonight, a lineup rounded out by Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Tucker and Duncan Robinson. – 7:01 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
As expected, Gabe Vincent starting in Kyle Lowry’s place.
Vincent, Robinson, Butler, Tucker and Adebayo starting for Heat vs. Bulls tonight. – 7:01 PM Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Pop on what he liked most about Tre Jones’ double-double performance in Miami, “Same thing I like with him every night. He’s a competitor, plays good ‘D,’ thinks the game, plays all out.” – 6:54 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Lonzo Ball continues to do straight-ahead running as he rehabs knee, per Billy Donovan. Next steps: Change of direction running + ramp up intensity of sprints
On Friday, Ball will be 5 weeks into 6-8 week recovery timeline. Donovan: “Nothing has changed with his time schedule” – 6:24 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Billy Donovan says Alex Caruso will continue non-contact drills as he regains strength in his wrist for the next 1-2 weeks until he’s cleared: “He can’t really even pass with that (arm), he doesn’t feel comfortable shooting with it. It’s not pain. It’s just stiff and it’s weak.” – 6:22 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Billy Donovan said Alex Caruso is able to get on court, do work with basketball for first time since wrist surgery, but it’s going to take some time to get strength back in area. Said AC can barely pass with right hand right now. Not cleared for contact, could be a couple weeks – 6:05 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Billy Donovan said Alex Caruso has to get his strength back. Won’t be cleared for contact until then. Donovan said that may be a couple weeks. – 6:03 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Erik Spoelstra says Victor Oladipo already had a “really good workout” with the Skyforce. Oladipo will be able to take part in three practices during his time there, but won’t play in any G League games.
Oladipo expected to rejoin the Heat in Milwaukee on Wednesday. – 5:52 PM Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Steve Nash says Kevin Durant won’t play in either of the back-to-back games against the Raptors but is hopeful he’ll play either Thursday against the Miami Heat or Sunday in Boston against the Celtics. #Nets – 5:51 PM Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Nash says KD is out vs. Toronto on Tuesday as well. He’s hopeful he will he back either Thursday vs. Heat or Sunday vs. Celtics. – 5:51 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Erik Spoelstra said Victor Oladipo will get in three practices in during his time in the G League with Sioux Falls. He will not play in games there. – 5:50 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Caleb Martin (Achilles) is available for Heat tonight. Lowry (personal reasons), Morris (neck) and Oladipo (knee), Javonte Smart (two way) are out. – 5:49 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
First game of Heat-Bulls this season:
– Win without Tyler Herro
Second game of Heat-Bulls:
– Win without Jimmy Butler + Bam Adebayo
Third game of Heat-Bulls:
– Without Kyle Lowry… – 4:23 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Tristan Thompson grew up listening to Chuck Swirsky broadcast Raptors games, worked out for Toronto when Marc Eversley served as assistant GM and contested an iconic Derrick Rose postseason buzzer-beater.
So, yes, his Bulls ties run deep.
Story: nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/… – 3:24 PM