Bulls 133, Heat 124 – 4th February 2025

On February 5, 2025By Littum

Tonight’s game felt a lot like broccolini served with your steaks. Yes, I see it’s on my plate, but it’s the last thing I think about.

With the NBA trading deadline in full effect, the battle between bulls and heat felt like filler. This is especially true when we consider the three players acquired in the Zach Lavine agreement sat in street clothes behind the bench. Whether these three will fit Bulls or not be redirected elsewhere, to see. There are many questions that still need to be answered, and many of these overshadowed what happened in the United Center on Tuesday night.

Nevertheless, the players in uniform did a decent job of blocking the noise. While they got to a relatively sluggish start that led to a quick 12-2 deficit, things turned quickly. Bulls’ second device continued their recent tendency to change momentum.

Matas Buzelis checked in and immediately delivered a spark, flying after a spawning-oop slam, Nikola Jovic attacked the dribbling and benefits from a mismatch on Terry Rozier. Patrick Williams also continued to drain back-to-back triangles before Jalen Smith made one of his own with 28.0 seconds left. While the heat was still completing the high scored frame with a 37-32 lead, the young bulls showed some encouraging battle.

Miami’s experience won to go into the break. Tyler Herro and Co. Shot 10-18 from the field and drained eight free throw. This helped blunt their lead up to 70-60 at the end of the quarter. Bulls still felt like they were on the verge of making this a game, even with a double -digit deficit. A big reason for it was the play of Buzelis, who went a perfect 7-7 in the first half to lead the team by 15 points.

The race that we all waited for arrived shortly after he got out of the dressing room. Bulls tightened a 14-3 stretch together on about two minutes of action to require a 78-77 lead. They got four triangles from four different players during this race. However, Eric Spoelstra’s team was the longest thing from Rattled, and they would use a balanced interior game to pretty easy to regain a 103-94 lead on the way into the last 12 minutes.

Chicago had every reason to crumble. They are in the thick of a sales deadline intended to strengthen their lottery odds. If the bench didn’t feel inspired, I don’t think anyone would have blamed them. But that is exactly why the fourth quarter was so impressive.

Chicago would continue to outsscore Miami 39-21 to close things and win 133-124. The victory was brought entirely by their young core, which did an excellent job of attacking and ended 8-11 in the paint during the quarter. Buzelis also remained hot and rained two triangles to end the night a perfect 10-10 to the field with 24 points. Bulls also had four different players score 20+ when Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Josh Gidde joined Buzelis.

Have they actually imposed a defensive clinic in the fourth quarter? No. They were definitely lucky with Miami, who only shoots 7-24 from the field, including 4-10 in the paint. But they played with so much heart down the stretch that we had seen the whole season long, and this almost felt like an official departure of the torch. With avalanche officially out of the picture, the young players made a point to show that this is their team now.

Player characters:

Matas Buzelis – A+
Statistics: 24 points, 3 ropes, 2 blk

What should be said? Rookie shot a perfect 10-10 from the field and flashed almost everything that makes him such a tempting view. He flew for dunks, spun past defenders, broke some ankles and sprayed triangles. Yes, it is only a game, but the future looks very bright for the total election # 11.