Herro’s Gamble Backfires as Heat Collapse Late in Crushing Loss to Bulls
CHICAGO — In a game with heavy playoff implications, the Miami Heat came up just short against the Chicago Bulls, losing 119-111 after a costly decision in the final minute overshadowed a strong individual performance by Tyler Herro.
The Heat, fighting to improve their seeding ahead of the play-in tournament, trailed by five points in the final 60 seconds. After Herro hit a clutch 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 114-109, he came up with a crucial defensive play, stealing the ball from Chicago’s Coby White near midcourt. With an open lane ahead, Herro had a chance to bring the game within one possession. Instead of taking the uncontested layup, he pulled up from beyond the arc. The shot clanked off the back rim, and Chicago capitalized on the miss.
Kevin Huerter secured the rebound and found rookie Matas Buzelis in the corner, who drained a 3-pointer to extend the Bulls’ lead to eight, effectively sealing the win. The loss dealt a major blow to the Heat’s hopes of avoiding the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, as they now trail the Bulls by one game with only two remaining.
Herro, Miami’s leading scorer this season with a career-best 23.8 points per game, had another impressive night with 30 points. However, his late-game decision drew attention.
“I was feeling that shot,” Herro explained. “Looking back now, obviously, I should’ve laid the ball up. But in the moment, that’s the shot I felt confident in.”
Despite the misstep, Herro’s teammates stood by him. “That kid’s made a lot of tough buckets,” said Bam Adebayo. “He had a great look. If he makes it, nobody says a word.”
Andrew Wiggins, who returned from a hamstring injury to score 14 points, stressed the importance of staying together. “We just have to keep building the right habits — playing with pace, staying connected on defense.”
The Heat, who had won seven of their last nine before this game, will now face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday before finishing the regular season at home against the Washington Wizards. A rematch with the Bulls in the play-in tournament looms large.
