Chicago Bulls loses in heartbreaking fashion to the Miami Heat

The Bulls fell short down the stretch against the Heat.

© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls had the Miami Heat on the ropes but couldn’t finish them off and fell in heartbreaking fashion, 118-116, on Saturday night at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Jimmy Butler was the biggest thorn in the Bulls’ side, as the veteran wingman scored the game-winning jumper right before the final buzzer to drop Chicago to 10-17 for the season.

JIMMY BUTLER FOR THE WIN 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hzu7zo3Kh9

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 17, 2023

Comeback fell short

Down by 11 in the fourth, the Bulls rode the hot three-point shooting of Coby White and clutch shotmaking of DeMar DeRozan to take a slim 116-114 lead with 1:28 left. But a turnover by DeRozan led to a fastbreak bucket by Heat guard Kyle Lowry to tie the game up at 116-all. 

Nikola Vucevic then missed the potential go-ahead basket, and the Heat made the Bulls pay with Butler sinking a stepback mid-range jumper over the outstretched arms of White to give Miami the victory.

After the game, Vooch regretted the shot he had taken right before Butler’s heroic shot.

"I definitely could've gotten a better look. I thought I had (Love) when I picked up my dribble. He kind of closed off, and I should've taken one more dribble, been a little more patient. It didn't end up being a great shot—a tough half-layup, half-left-hand hook. I wish I could've made a better decision," Vucevic, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, said.

1-1 in Miami this week. Philly up next. pic.twitter.com/iIt0vixVJN

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 17, 2023

Caruso going to miss the time

Chicago played without defensive ace Alex Caruso, who injured his left ankle early in the game against the Heat on Thursday night. The Bulls also lost rugged forward Torrey Craig, who suffered an injured heel and did not play after halftime. Craig was having a heck of a game too, scoring 16 points, highlighted by four triples, before getting ruled out of the game.

Donovan gave an update on Caruso, saying he hopes the latter won’t miss a lot of time.

“Hopefully, a few days clears it up,” Donovan said.

“But we don’t anticipate him missing any major time.”

DeRozan led the Bulls with 27 points, Patrick Williams added 25, while White finished with 22 points—16 of which came in the fourth.

Coby's fourth three of the 4th!@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/aPIIsDC9EX

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 17, 2023

Alex Caruso suffers yet another injury in game vs. the Miami Heat