The Chicago Bulls Play-In matchup is set. Chicago is slated to take on the Miami Heat on April 16 in a win-or-go-home affair. The winner of the contest will then battle it out for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference on April 18—either against the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks.
The Bulls are 3-0 against the Heat this season, with a victory in February, March, and April. Chicago defeated Miami less than a week ago in a back-and-forth battle. The Heat took control to begin the contest before Chicago caught up, narrowing the deficit to five at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter went quite differently. Despite the Heat going up by as many as eight points with less than six minutes to go, the Bulls came out on top—taking a 58-52 lead into halftime. Chicago took control in the third quarter, seizing a 14-point advantage before a brisk Miami comeback stopped the bleeding, allowing the Heat to remain within striking distance heading into the final frame.
Chicago would hold Miami at bay for most of the fourth quarter until a Tyler Herro triple cut the Heat’s deficit to five with 54 seconds remaining. Thus, the contest entered clutch territory, defined by the NBA as a game within a five-point margin in the last five minutes. Following Herro’s triple, Miami had an opportunity to slash Chicago’s lead even further after a Coby White turnover. However, Miami’s All-Star guard misfired on a fast-break triple, which ultimately led to Matas Buzelis’ dagger corner three to seal the victory.
The Bulls’ win was their 37th of the season and essentially the deciding factor for the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. Although the Bulls led for much of the second half, their late-game heroics sealed the victory.
The Bulls have been one of the NBA’s best clutch teams
Despite Chicago’s struggles throughout the season, its impressive clutch performances have indicated the Bulls are prepared for the postseason—much better than one expect of a sub-.500 squad. The Bulls are 17-17 in clutch contests this season. Nonetheless, advanced analytics paint a prettier picture.
Chicago is fifth in the NBA in clutch rating at 11.7, a drastic difference from an overall net rating of minus-1.9, which ranks 20th. The only squads with a better net rating in the clutch than Chicago are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. All aforementioned squads have won at least 49 games.
The Bulls possess the 12th-best offensive rating and fourth-best defensive rating in the clutch this season. While Chicago’s offensive net rating hardly improves in the clutch (plus-0.7 differential), its defensive net rating improves astronomically, by 13.2 points—the fourth-best swing in the association.
Chicago is typically a strong offensive team that only gets better with the game on the line. Defense is quite a different story. While it must be noted the Bulls improved defensively since the All-Star break, its clutch defensive propensity is surprising, to say the least.
When assessing the Bulls’ clutch performances post-All-Star break, their record is 7-6 and they rank within the top five in offensive (third) and defensive net rating (fourth). The Bulls’ defensive net rating in the clutch after February 20 is 96.5. All in all, the Bulls’ net rating during this timespan is 29.4.
The Bulls have been unbelievable when the lights are the brightest. Their late-game successes are especially encouraging with the Play-In Tournament in the near future. As the postseason begins, rotations begin to dwindle, and competitiveness increases tenfold. With a spot in the playoffs on the line, strong play in the clutch will only better Chicago’s chances of victory. And, for what it’s worth, Chicago’s Play-In opponent, the Heat, are 14-27 in the clutch with a minus-17.5 net rating—the second-worst in the NBA. The once-downtrodden Bulls shouldn’t be taken for granted.
