How would the Miami Heat respond with Jimmy Butler out? Judging by the first quarter of Friday's game, they'd do it very aggressively.
Miami extends their run to 19-0 with under 5 minutes to go in the 1st quarter on ESPN! https://t.co/HFbPwa8aFl pic.twitter.com/jQD0pWBF4M
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2024
With fans still filing into a half-empty arena, the Heat seized control of their winner-takes-eight-seed game with a stunning 19-0 run. The Heat went from an 11-6 deficit to a 25-11 lead thanks to stifling defense, some missed Chicago shots and big buckets from young forwards Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
HOT START for the Heat capping a 13-0 run early in the 1Q!
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2024
CHI-MIA #SoFiPlayIn action live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/oNb2FjEQtg
But the biggest reason for the run was Miami center Bam Adebayo, who blocked a shot and dominated the defensive boards during the run. He and the Heat simply intimidated the Bulls from trying to score in the paint at all. The Bulls, who made the fourth-fewest three-pointers in the NBA, took and missed five triples during their scoring drought. For the quarter, they shot 3-of-13 from deep.
For their part, the Heat only took six threes and made three of them. The Heat equaled the Bulls' scoring from outside and dominated in the paint. That's what will lead to a 34-17 first-quarter advantage and pole position for the No. 8 seed.
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