Tyler Herro went from making a questionable decision in a loss to Chicago to delivering a standout performance in a Play-In Tournament win, scoring 38 points as Miami defeated the Bulls 109-90 on Wednesday.
Bam Adebayo expressed admiration for Herro’s growth, saying, “It’s good for him to have these types of moments. In past years, he’s been injured and had his name thrown in the mud. To have a year like this, I’ve got the utmost respect for him. He’s playing free and putting the ball in the basket.”
Herro’s strong showing came one week after a controversial late-game decision in a loss to Chicago. This time, he shot 13 for 19, helping Miami eliminate the Bulls from the Play-In Tournament for the third consecutive year.
Looking ahead, Miami will face Atlanta on Friday with a chance to meet top-seeded Cleveland in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks lost to Orlando on Tuesday.
“We knew what our path was,” Herro said. “It was gonna take two wins on the road, which we’re capable of. We’re excited for the challenge in Atlanta.”
Herro set the tone early, scoring 23 points as Miami took a commanding 71-47 halftime lead. He made his first eight shots before missing a three-pointer early in the third quarter. He added seven points in the fourth to help Miami weather a late Bulls push.
In the previous game against Chicago, Herro also had a strong outing, scoring 30 points, but a late-game decision overshadowed his performance. The Heat were down by eight, and after Herro made a three-pointer with under a minute left, he stole the ball from Chicago’s Coby White. Instead of going for a layup or dunk, he chose to attempt another three-pointer, which he missed. The Bulls recovered and made a three-pointer of their own, sealing the win.
Coach Erik Spoelstra praised Herro’s competitive spirit after the win, noting, “He’s a great competitor. He knew he was going to have to bring a lot to this game. Offensively, he was there pretty much at every level all game long.”
Herro reflected on the season series with the Bulls, saying, “We felt we shouldn’t have dropped those three games throughout the season. We’ve won almost every quarter against them, except for a few, but they managed to win at the end. They’re a good team and play fast, which is tough if you’re not prepared and focused.”
