Rookie Matas Buzelis delivered a flawless shooting performance, scoring a career-high 24 points to help the Chicago Bulls defeat the Miami Heat 133-124 on Tuesday night.
Josh Giddey also finished with 24 points, while Coby White added 22 as Chicago (22-29) secured its first win since trading Zach LaVine to Sacramento.
The Bulls overcame a 12-2 deficit to start the game and erased a four-point deficit late in the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run.
Ayo Dosunmu contributed 21 points and nine assists, and Nikola Vucevic posted 12 points and 10 rebounds amid ongoing trade speculation.
Buzelis shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the field, including four three-pointers, providing the United Center crowd with a glimpse of his potential. The Lithuanian’s increased playing time comes as Chicago reshapes its roster following the LaVine trade, and his impact was immediate.
Miami (24-24) was led by Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, who each scored 23 points, but the Heat could not sustain their early lead. Nikola Jovic had 20 points, while rookie Kel’el Ware impressed with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Heat led 70-60 at halftime, but Chicago outscored them 73-54 in the second half, capitalizing on key defensive stops and efficient shooting.
Duncan Robinson, who started despite a right hip contusion, knocked down two early threes as part of Miami’s hot start.
Billy Donovan confirmed that Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones—the players acquired in the LaVine deal—would not debut before the trade deadline.
Miami, which had won three of its last four games, struggled defensively in the fourth quarter as Chicago shot 52.7% from the field and 46.3% from deep.
Herro finished with nine assists, but he shot just 5-for-15 from the field, while Terry Rozier had a rough night with only five points on 2-for-12 shooting. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 14 points off the bench for the Heat, who allowed Chicago to score 39 points in the final quarter.
Patrick Williams provided valuable contributions for the Bulls, tallying 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Jalen Smith chipped in eight points and eight rebounds, helping Chicago match Miami’s physicality on the boards.
With the trade deadline approaching, Vucevic’s future remains uncertain, but for now, he continues to anchor Chicago’s frontcourt.
