” They did everything right. We didn’t do much good… Jimmy Butler sums up in a few words the difficult evening of his Heat against the Bulls who came to Miami uninhibited, despite the absence of several holders (Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball). Chicago owes this great first victory (108-116) to DeMar DeRozan.
Carried by their pair Jimmy Butler – Tyler Herro, the locals had quickly taken over, leading most of the time in the first half, most often with three possessions in advance. But with a confident Ayo Dosunmu with the ball in hand and a Goran Dragic on fire from afar, and author of a dazzling comeback with four award-winning baskets (including an improbable prayer while looking for the fault!), Chicago picked up at the break ( 59-59).
Things started to get complicated for Erik Spoelstra’s men after going to the locker room. Discreet so far, DeMar DeRozan took the game on his own and Chicago flew to the score (78-93) against a too wait-and-see Heat in defense. The Floridians took advantage of some good sequences from their substitutes, facing the opposing bench, to return at the start of the fourth quarter.
On a new 3-point basket from Max Strus, Miami even had only two possessions behind (98-102). But with the return to business of DeMar DeRozan, as well as a handful of free throws missed at the wrong time by the Heat, the Bulls ended up concluding without really being scared.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The DeMar DeRozan Festival. The MVP of the evening, of course. Author of only nine points in the first period, the rear began his festival in the third quarter with 17 points. Kyle Lowry’s big buddy took advantage of favorable “switches” by targeting Tyler Herro in particular in defense. But even when Jimmy Butler or Caleb Martin wanted to take up his case, he always found a parade. Not clumsy from a distance and comfortable creating, he did most of his damage in his usual peripheral play, with lots of baseline shots. In the second half, the contrast in the Bulls’ play was stark when he was on the floor and when he wasn’t.
– The Heat’s lack of physical impact. Offensive rebounds, interceptions, counters… The Floridians lost each of these little statistical battles and above all gave the feeling of being physically dominated and envious. Where Javonte Green (six faults in 18 minutes) for example opposite was sometimes too generous in the effort but made his presence felt by going into contact. This deficit partly explains Miami’s defensive difficulties in the third quarter, which ended with 37 points against. A period when Bam Adebayo, the team’s defensive leader, showed little and, due to foul concerns, had to be replaced by Dewayne Dedmon, also in “foul trouble” afterwards.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Vucevic. If he lacked address, the pivot can at least congratulate himself on having been served closer to the circle to score. Like a very good ball offered in transition by DeMar DeRozan, in the middle of the third quarter, while the Montenegrin arrived in “trailer”. Author of an important 3-point basket five minutes from the end, his only success by far, the pivot signed a very big performance on the rebound (17) and finished with the best +/- ratio of the match (+16 ).
✅ Max Strus. While Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro did not score a single basket in the game, in the final quarter, the substitute did not ask any questions by lining up the winning baskets throughout the game. One of the few to float behind the two strong men of his team tonight.
⛔ Kyle Lowry. Black evening for the leader who lacked precision in his transmissions and especially long distance address. Much too short on his shots, he missed several opportunities to allow his team to pick up in the last moments.
THE FOLLOWING
Heat (0-1): reception of the Celtics, Friday
Bulls (1-0): trip to Washington, Friday
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