Behind Tyler Herro, Miami Heat Set Up Another Meeting With Boston Celtics After Defeating Chicago Bulls

Shandel Richardson | Apr 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) looks on after scoring against the Chicago Bulls - Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Two days ago, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro struggled with his shot.

His redemption came in the form of an all-around performance to help the Heat advance to the Eastern Conference playoffs. Herro had a team-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead them to a 112-91 victory Friday against the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament.

After winning the elimination game, the Heat now face a familiar opponent. They open their first-round series against the Boston Celtics Sunday at TD Garden. This marks the fourth time they have met in the postseason since 2020, including the last two conference finals.

Herro bounced back from an inconsistent performance in Wednesday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He finished 8 of 17 from the field, including four 3-pointers. He was among the several Heat players to help offset the absence of Jimmy Butler, who is sidelined indefinitely due to a sprained knee.

Butler will likely miss the first round, meaning the Heat need more balanced performances to have any shot against the top-seeded Celtics. Rookie Jaime Jaquez stepped up with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists while center Kevin Love contributed 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The Heat, which blew a double-digit lead against the Sixers, kept their composure this time. They closed the third quarter with a 12-0 run to remain in control. This was the second straight year the Heat defeated the Bulls to earn a playoff berth. They can only hope for a repeat of entering as a No. 8 seed when they upset the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round on the way to the NBA Finals.