Chicago Bulls' Zach LaVine On Their Success This Season Against Miami Heat: "We Match Up Well Against Them"

The Miami Heat play the Chicago Bulls Friday in the play-in game

Basketball is often a game of matchups. 

And Chicago Bulls forward Zach LaVine credits their lineup for having so much success against the Miami Heat this season. The Bulls swept all three games in the regular season. 

The teams meet Friday in a play-in game in Miami, with a playoff berth on the line. 

"We match up well against them," LaVine said. "Obviously, this is once again a one-and-done situation. We have to go in with the same mindset. They're going to make adjustments. We are, too."

Bulls coach Billy Donovan refused to get caught up in the regular season. With so much at stake, he knows the atmosphere will be different. 

And Donovan knows the Heat will be ready, especially after Tuesday's ugly loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Friday's winner gets the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks Sunday in the first round.

"There will be some things we can take from the first three games but those are over with now," Donovan said. "This is a new opportunity and new challenge in front of us."

Behind LaVine's 39 points, the Bulls advanced after defeating the Toronto Raptors. The Heat hold a huge edge in experience. The Bulls have missed the playoffs four of the last five years. They haven't won a postseason series since 2015.

The Heat have made the playoffs each of the last three seasons, making the 2020 NBA Finals and losing in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last year.

"We know going there, it's another great road test against a team that's seasoned and coming off a loss and will look to rebounding and play to their identity and their style," Donovan said. "We have a lot to get ready for."

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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