The MIAMI Heat overcame the absence of star forward Jimmy Butler to crush the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in their play-in eliminator game on Friday, and earn a matchup with the league-leading Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
In the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans, also without their key player due to a hamstring injury, beat the Sacramento Kings 105-98 to set up a first-round series with the number one ranked Oklahoma City Thunder.
This is the second straight season Miami has earned an eighth-place finish through the play-in tournament and they will play the Celtics for the fourth time in the last five playoffs.
Butler suffered an MCL knee ligament injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and faces several weeks out.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has insisted that his team has the personnel to overcome the loss of their talisman and they illustrated that in a convincing home win.
Guard Tyler Herro was the hero with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but he was supported well by rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. and veteran Kevin Love.
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Jaquez scored 21 points with six rebounds and six assists, while Love, who came off the bench, had 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Heat were also without guard Terry Rozier, who remains sidelined with a neck injury, but they exploded in the first quarter, scoring 19 unanswered points and ending the opening period with a 34-17 lead.
It was a lead they never relinquished, with a 14-0 run in the second quarter helping them to a 47-37 halftime lead.
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Demar DeRozan top-scored for the Bulls with 22 points, but Chicago never really threatened to turn things around in the second half.
Herro said he is trying to emulate Butler’s all-around contributions for Miami.
“A lot of people try to determine the outcome of a game by how many points someone scores and I think Jimmy Butler does the opposite,” he said.
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“He impacts the game in so many different ways, sharing the ball, making the right plays for his teammates, and I tried to be as much Jimmy as I might tonight, just trying to make the right plays, give my guys shots, and not force anything ,” he said.
“Obviously this is a big team win for us overall, I’m very happy to be back in the playoffs, healthy and ready to go,” he added.
However, the Celtics will be heavy favorites once morest Miami, with Boston recording a season-high 64 wins.
New Orleans took over
In Williamson’s absence, Brandon Ingram stepped up for the Pelicans, producing 24 points, six rebounds and six assists as New Orleans took over in the second quarter.
The hosts led 54-45 at halftime and never let the Kings get within five points in the second half, with their reserves making significant contributions.
Larry Nance, Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado all put up double figures off the bench as New Orleans went 6-0 once morest Sacramento this season.
“We know how important today is,” Ingram said.
“We know where we want to be and where we should be. It’s been two years since we got back to the playoffs and now we get another chance to go out and keep fighting,” he said.
De’Aaron Fox led the way for Sacramento with 35 points, but it was another disappointing night for a team that was knocked out in the first round last year by the Golden State Warriors.
Last year was the Kings’ first playoff appearance since 2006. (AFP/Z-3)
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