Chicago Bulls breaks two-game slump with huge win over the Miami Heat

Bulls put an end to their two-game slump with a huge win against the Heat

© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

In a stunning refrain from how the Chicago Bulls typically start games, they leaped out to a 33-8 lead in the first quarter before holding on for a 124-116 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night at the Kaseya Center. The win stopped Chicago’s two-game losing streak and propped their record up to 10-16.

Historic start

More often than not this season, the Bulls have spent time trying to catch up after falling behind by double-digits as early as the first. Against the Heat on Wednesday, the Bulls turned the tables on their foes as their 25-point lead in the first was the second-largest in franchise history, right behind the feat done by Michael Jordan’s Bulls when they led by 27 over Golden State in 1997.

“Really pleased with the way they came out,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said.

The Bulls’ 25-point lead in the first is the second-largest this season, right behind Boston’s 26-point advantage over Washington.

“You do have to credit them,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“They jumped all over us. ... We didn’t start the game with a lot of juice and we’re not going to make any excuses about it.”

COBY WHITE is in his bag 😤@CobyWhite | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/px3G7OAs2E

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 15, 2023

Held Miami at bay

The Heat showed plenty of fight as they kept on coming despite the Bulls’ attempts to pull away. Chicago led by 24 in the second, but Miami rallied to trim it down to four at halftime, 60-56. The Bulls pushed their lead to 11 in the fourth quarter, but a free-throw by Heat star Jimmy Butler pulled them to within four, 113-109, with 2:46 to go.

However, Ayo Dosunmu, who stepped up in the absence of Alex Caruso, who re-injured his ankle five minutes into the game, converted a three-pointer from the corner to give the Bulls a cushion that would no longer be threatened.

We love to see it.@AyoDos_11 | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/XXLeMZtFcH

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 15, 2023

Four players scored at least 23 points for the Bulls—a feat that no other Bulls squad has done since 1969. Coby White flirted with a triple-double as he fired in 26 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, while big man Nikola Vucevic had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.

Dosunmu finished with 24 points, eight boards, and five assists, while DeMar DeRozan chipped in 23 markers.

Coby White says the Chicago Bulls are not losing their confidence despite suffering back-to-back losses