Chicago, April 3 (BUS): Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Hero added 19 points each, while the Eastern District leaders Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls 127-109 on Saturday night.
Pam Adebayo scored 16, and the Heat (50-28) reached 50 winning points for the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Associated Press reported.
Miami also extended its lead over second-placed Milwaukee to 1 1/2 games and moved on to secure a home stadium advantage in Round 1 of the post-season. If the Heat go 3-1 the rest of the way, he’ll snatch the top seed in the East.
Miami made things look easy in this game, taking a nine-point lead in the first half and breaking it in the third. The Heat scored 53.7% in the match and made 17 of 34 three-pointers.
Butler, the former bull, scored seven rebounds and six assists. Herro hit the season high by nailing 6 of 7 3s, including three for third.
DeWayne Deadmon added 14 points, and the Heat won their third in a row after losing four points in a row.
Zach Lavigne led the Chicago team with 33 points. DeMar DeRozan finished with 26, though he shot 6 of 18, and the sixth-placed Bulls lost half a game behind Toronto with four to play. Chicago, which has led the East for part of the season, is trying to stay in the top six and avoid playing in the Tour.
The Heat took a 66-57 lead in the first half after Lowry made three free throws in the final seconds. Hero heated up in the third half, scoring nine goals and scoring 3 in the last minute to make the score 98-79.
lore’s return
The Heat plays in Toronto on Sunday, and it will be Laurie’s first time playing there since joining Miami last summer. Lowry is still loved in Toronto after helping the Raptors win the 2019 NBA title, and he said it would be emotional.
“I’m sure they cheer me up for a while, and then if we start winning, they boo me,” Laurie said. “It’s all love.” Lowry also said that if Toronto still had limited attendance or no-show restrictions due to the coronavirus, he would not play on Sunday.
Hints
Heat: The Heat has 10 winning seasons 50. … F Caleb Martin (bruised right calf), G/F Max Strus (bruised right shoulder), and G Gabe Vincent (bruised right big toe) were available. After they were listed as suspect.
Bulls: The G Lonzo Ball (left knee) won’t start running and cutting until early in the week. Coach Billy Donovan said Bulls’ personality will have a better handle on his situation on Tuesday or Wednesday. “They are building it slowly right now,” he said. “We’re about to get to that point from what they told me.” Paul underwent surgery in January to repair a meniscus tear.
Saturday marked the 15th anniversary of Donovan coaching Florida to win the NCAA Championship over Ohio State and repeat the title.
Donovan appeared to receive a chuckle from F Patrick Williams revealing, undisturbed, after Thursday’s win over the Clippers that he missed the shootout that morning and was fined by the team. “The only thing I love about Patrick is that he’s so honest,” he said. “He is very honest. He is a very honest man.”
next one
Heat: Visit Toronto on Sunday.
Bulls: Host Milwaukee on Tuesday.