Tyler Herro’s 38-point explosion sends Heat past Bulls for third straight Play-In win

When Tyler Herro launched a three-pointer from the corner with 2:14 left in the third quarter, the Miami Heat bench erupted—not because it was his tenth point of the night, but because everyone knew what was coming. By the final buzzer, Herro had dropped 38 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading the Heat to a 109-90 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The win wasn’t just another game. It was the third straight year Miami has eliminated Chicago in the Play-In, turning a rivalry of necessity into a pattern the league can’t ignore.

A First Quarter Statement

The Heat didn’t tiptoe into this game. They came out swinging. With Bam Adebayo anchoring the paint and Herro slicing through Chicago’s defense like a hot knife through butter, Miami opened with a 39-28 blitz. Adebayo, the 27-year-old Nigerian-American center, finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, but it was his presence that forced the Bulls to collapse inside—leaving Herro wide open on the perimeter. By halftime, the score was 71-47. The Bulls, who entered the game at 8-7, looked shell-shocked. Their star, Josiah-Jordan Giddey, had 17 points by the break but zero help. No one else on Chicago’s roster hit double digits before the fourth quarter.

The Bulls’ Brief Hope

Here’s the thing: Chicago didn’t quit. In the third, Giddey erupted for 13 points, including a spinning layup over two defenders that had the crowd gasping. The Bulls outscored Miami 27-17 in the quarter, cutting the lead to 88-74. For a moment, you could feel the momentum shift. Fans in the arena—though unnamed in official reports—were on their feet, chanting Giddey’s name. But the Heat had an answer. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with 5:12 left in the third and switched to a zone that suffocated Chicago’s ball movement. The Bulls went 0-for-7 from three in the final 4:30 of the quarter. That’s when the real control began.

Herro’s Masterclass

Herro didn’t just score—he orchestrated. He hit pull-ups from 22 feet. He drove baseline and finished through contact. He even drew a foul on a step-back three that he calmly sank. His 38 points were the most by a Heat player in a Play-In game since Dwyane Wade’s 40 in 2010. And unlike Wade’s, this one came with zero hesitation. Herro, 25, has spent years being labeled a ‘clutch shooter.’ Wednesday, he proved he’s more: a closer, a leader, a guy who thrives when the stakes are highest. His efficiency? 14-of-24 from the field, 5-of-8 from deep. He didn’t miss a free throw. And when the Bulls tried to double-team him in the fourth, he dished off to Kyle Lowry for a corner three that sealed the game.

Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score

This isn’t just about seeding. It’s about identity. The Heat have now made the Play-In three years in a row—and won all three matchups against Chicago. Meanwhile, the Bulls have missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. The pattern is clear: Miami thrives in chaos. Chicago flounders under pressure. The Miami franchise, headquartered in downtown Miami, Florida, has built a culture around resilience. The Bulls, based in Chicago, Illinois, still rely on individual brilliance over systemic execution. And in the Play-In, that’s a death sentence.

What’s Next for the Heat and Hawks

With the win, Miami (10-6) advances to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, April 18, 2025. Atlanta, also 9-7, has been here before—this is their fourth straight Play-In appearance. The winner takes the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The loser? Gone. No second chances. The Heat’s path to the playoffs now runs through Trae Young and a Hawks team that’s dangerous but inconsistent. But here’s the twist: Miami has won 10 of their last 12 games. They’re peaking. Atlanta? They’ve lost four of their last six. The odds are tilting.

Chicago’s Season Ends in Silence

The Bulls’ elimination was confirmed by Fox Sports on April 17, 2025. No celebration. No press conference. Just a quiet locker room. Giddey, despite his 25-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist night, looked drained. His stat line was good—but not enough. Not when the team around him couldn’t make a single shot in crunch time. Chicago’s 8-7 record wasn’t bad. But it was fragile. And when the pressure came, it shattered. The franchise, once a powerhouse under Michael Jordan, now finds itself stuck in a cycle of near-misses and underperformance.

Eastern Conference Standings Snapshot

At the time of the game, the Detroit Pistons led the East at 13-2. The Cleveland Cavaliers were second at 11-6. The Milwaukee Bucks sat at .500 (8-8) after a brutal three-game skid. And at the bottom? The Washington Wizards, at 1-14, and the Indiana Pacers, at 2-14. The Play-In wasn’t just a tournament—it was a mirror. It showed who’s rising, who’s falling, and who’s just treading water.