04/19/2024 23:08hs.
Overcoming the loss of its leader Jimmy Butlerlos Miami Heat They defeated the 112-91 this Friday Chicago Bulls in the last Repechage match Playoffs of the NBA Eastern Conference.
Shooting guard Tyler Herro, with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, and Mexican-American rookie Jaime Jáquez Jr., with 21 points, perfectly compensated for Butler’s absence.
The Heat, who finished the regular season in eighth place in the East, will be the Boston Celtics’ first-round opponentleaders of the regular phase (64-18) and big favorites in the sector.
Tyler Herro had a decisive performance. (AFP)
Without Butler, there was still a miracle
Current NBA runner-up, Miami needed to reach the second Repechage game to seal its ticket to the postseason after losing on Wednesday to Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers.
Jimmy Butler, the player who led the Heat to the 2020 and 2023 Finals, suffered a knee injury against the Sixers that kept him out of Friday’s game and could keep him out for weeks.
The Bulls, ninth in the East in the regular season, closed another disappointing season with a disastrous performance in Miami, where they fell behind from 34-17 in the first quarter.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan with 22 points for the Bulls who have only qualified for the postseason twice since 2015.
The results of the Repechages in the NBA and what is coming
1. LA Lakers – New Orleans Pelicans 110-106
2. Sacramento Kings – Golden State Warriors 118-94
3. New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings (winner advances to first round as 8th seed)
– First round of playoffs (best of seven games)
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Pelicans o Kings (8)
Denver Nuggets (2) vs Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs Phoenix Suns (6)
LA Clippers (4) vs Dallas Mavericks (5)
1. Philadelphia 76ers – Miami Heat 105-104
2. Chicago Bulls – Atlanta Hawks 131-116
3. Miami Heat – Chicago Bulls 112-91
– First round of playoffs (best of seven games)
Boston Celtics (1) vs Miami Heat (8)
New York Knicks (2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (7)
Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs Indiana Pacers (6)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs Orlando Magic (5)
