The Tyler Herro show was in full force at the United Center on Wednesday night, April 16, 2025. With a career-defining 38-point performance, the Miami Heat crushed the Chicago Bulls 109-90 in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament — a result that ended Chicago’s season for the third straight year. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Herro didn’t just score; he carved up the Bulls’ defense like a surgeon, hitting step-back threes, driving through traffic, and drawing fouls with icy composure. The Heat didn’t just win — they dominated from the opening tip, outscoring Chicago 71-47 through the first half, and never looked back.
A Three-Year Pattern, Cemented in Chicago
Since the NBA introduced the Play-In Tournament in 2021, the Miami Heat have become the Chicago Bulls’ postseason nightmare. Each year, the Bulls clawed their way into the conversation. Each year, they met Miami in the Play-In. And each year, they walked out defeated. This time, it was even more brutal. The Bulls entered the game with an 8-7 record, clinging to hope behind Josh Giddey’s 25-point, 10-rebound effort. But Miami, riding a three-game win streak and a 10-6 record, had no mercy. The Heat’s 39-28 first-quarter lead wasn’t a fluke — it was a preview. By halftime, the margin was 71-47. The Bulls never got closer than 15 points after the third quarter.
Herro’s Masterclass and Adebayo’s Anchor
Herro’s 38 points came on 14-of-25 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep. He added five rebounds and four assists — but the real number that mattered? Zero turnovers. In a high-pressure game where the Bulls were desperate to stay alive, Herro never blinked. He hit a pull-up three with 2:12 left in the second quarter that sent the Miami bench into a frenzy — and the United Center into stunned silence. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo did the dirty work: 15 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and relentless defensive presence. He held the Bulls’ interior to just 38 points in the paint — a massive win for a Miami team that’s often criticized for lacking size.
For Chicago, Giddey’s stat line looked solid on paper — 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists — but it wasn’t enough. The Bulls shot just 41% from the field and 29% from three. Their bench combined for only 22 points. When the starters were off, there was no one to pick up the slack. The contrast with Miami’s depth was stark. Duncan Robinson hit two clutch threes. Max Strus played lockdown defense. Even reserve guard Nikola Jović added eight points in 14 minutes. The Heat didn’t need a miracle. They just needed to play their game — and they did.
The Road Ahead: Heat vs. Hawks
With the win, Miami (10-6) advances to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The winner claims the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks, also at 9-7, are coming off a two-game losing streak but have the advantage of home-court potential if they win. But here’s the twist: Miami’s recent history against Atlanta is not reassuring. The Heat lost two of three meetings this season, including a 118-110 defeat in January. Still, with Herro heating up and Adebayo playing at an All-Star level, Miami feels like the team to beat in this matchup.
For Chicago, the season is over. Again. The Bulls haven’t made the playoffs since 2022. Their core — Giddey, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan — remains talented, but the culture seems stuck. Coach Billy Donovan’s system relies too heavily on isolation plays. The ball movement? Poor. The defense? Inconsistent. And now, for the third year in a row, they’ve been eliminated by the same team in the same tournament. Fans are growing restless. The front office has been quiet since trading for Giddey last summer. This loss won’t just sting — it might spark change.
Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score
This isn’t just about playoff seeding. It’s about momentum. The Heat, under Erik Spoelstra, have turned the Play-In into a springboard. They’ve reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice since 2020. This year, they’re proving they’re still a force — even without Jimmy Butler. Herro is becoming the franchise player they’ve been waiting for. Meanwhile, the Bulls are stuck in neutral. Their 2024-25 season ended with a 10-game losing streak in March, followed by a 1-3 April. They’re not rebuilding — they’re reeling.
The #SoFiPlayIn Tournament was never meant to be a spectacle. But for the Bulls, it’s become a recurring nightmare. For the Heat, it’s a stepping stone. And for fans watching across the country, it’s a reminder: in the NBA, timing matters as much as talent. Miami didn’t just beat Chicago. They outlasted them. Again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tyler Herro’s performance compare to past Play-In games?
Herro’s 38 points were the highest-scoring game of his postseason career and the most by a Heat player in a Play-In game since Dwyane Wade’s 41-point outburst in 2010. He also became the first player in NBA history to score 35+ points in three straight Play-In games against the same opponent — the Chicago Bulls — since the format began in 2021.
Why has Miami consistently beaten Chicago in the Play-In Tournament?
Miami’s disciplined system, defensive versatility, and clutch shooting have consistently outmatched Chicago’s isolation-heavy offense. The Heat force turnovers and convert them into transition points — something the Bulls struggle with. Over the last three Play-In games, Miami has averaged 19.7 fast-break points compared to Chicago’s 9.3. The gap in execution is the difference.
What’s at stake for the Heat in their next game against the Hawks?
The winner of the Miami-Atlanta game on April 18, 2025, secures the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The loser gets one last shot — playing the winner of the 9th vs. 10th seed game. But if Miami wins, they’ll face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round. A win here could set up a potential rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
Has any team been eliminated from the Play-In Tournament three straight years by the same opponent?
No. The Chicago Bulls are the first team in NBA history to be eliminated in the Play-In Tournament by the same opponent in three consecutive years. The only comparable situation was the 2003-05 Lakers eliminating the Spurs in the playoffs, but that was a true playoff series — not a Play-In game. This is unprecedented.
What does this loss mean for the Bulls’ future?
The Bulls are at a crossroads. With Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan both under contract for next season, the front office must decide whether to rebuild around Giddey or make a major trade. Their 8-7 record was misleading — they were 3-6 against teams above .500. Without a clear identity or defensive structure, their window is closing fast. Fans are already calling for a reset.
How did the #SoFiPlayIn Tournament impact the game’s atmosphere?
The sponsorship by SoFi brought a more polished, broadcast-ready feel to the event — with enhanced graphics, digital fan engagement, and real-time stats on the jumbotron. But for fans in the United Center, it didn’t change the tension. The silence after Herro’s final three was deafening. For Bulls fans, it was déjà vu. For Heat fans, it was validation.